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Date
December 04, 1865
Abstract
VC 1869
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Contributor
Transcript file(s)
Subject (Topical)
Details
Identifier
vassar:24410,,Box 70,VCL_Letters_Houts_Annie_1869_003
Extent
1 item
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: VCLLettersHoutsAnnie1869003001
Vassar College, Mon. Dec. 4, 1865 My Dear Brother, I received your nice long letter last Friday, and was very much gratified to hear from you. I wrote to you last week on rec't of the dft. you had forwarded to me. I also read a paper Sat. the direction of which looked much as though it might have been written by Mary. Am much obliged for the same, aad for all your kindnesses to me. I don't care about taking the Forts, paper, but if you would send me one once in a while, I shall be very willing to accept. You are very kind to me indeed and don't think because I don't say much about it, I do not appreciate it. What I say or write always seems so stiff, that I sometimes think I would do better to leave it unsaid. I will try and keep an account of money, as
: VCLLettersHoutsAnnie1869003002
you wished, drawing from the Bank here. I shall have to see Mr. Vassar, the treasurer, about it. I wish you would write a note to him about it; you can send it to me, and I will give it to him. I am
afraid he might think there was some mistake in it. You know there are so many girls here, and they've nothing to trust to but appearances. So if you will do that, I will be ever-so-much obliged to you. I went to the city Sat. and came home, nicely tired out. I have a job on hand I am greatly dreading and that is to have some teeth fixed. They have a dentist come out here every Sat. and I guess I'll take my turn next Sat. The sooner over, the better. I think you have given your boy a beautiful name. I always like "Robert,"— I suppose it is "Bobby" for short—and hope he may prove as good a man as his name-sake. I am sorry to hear that Mary suffered so
severely, and very much rejoiced to know she Is improving. The bell has rung, and I must go to gym-
afraid he might think there was some mistake in it. You know there are so many girls here, and they've nothing to trust to but appearances. So if you will do that, I will be ever-so-much obliged to you. I went to the city Sat. and came home, nicely tired out. I have a job on hand I am greatly dreading and that is to have some teeth fixed. They have a dentist come out here every Sat. and I guess I'll take my turn next Sat. The sooner over, the better. I think you have given your boy a beautiful name. I always like "Robert,"— I suppose it is "Bobby" for short—and hope he may prove as good a man as his name-sake. I am sorry to hear that Mary suffered so
severely, and very much rejoiced to know she Is improving. The bell has rung, and I must go to gym-
: VCLLettersHoutsAnnie1869003003
nastics, will finish this evening. I am glad you are getting along nicely with your house, but you must not be in too great a hurry and take your family—ahem—into it before it is sufficiently dry. Better live crowded a little while. I scarcely know what to write to you about, there is nobody here you know any-thing of, but my self, and I must either talk about that interesting personage, or imagine you know every-body, as well as I do. Guess I'll adopt the latter method as I've no desire to become egotistical. One of our teachers Dr. Avery, received sad news a few days since, namely, the death of her father. O! what a loss it is to lose a father! One never knows how precious the relation is until the dear one has gone, never more to be seen on this earth, never more to mingle in the paths of men. The more I think of our dear father, the more I lament his departure. I, some-times, when I hear other girls speaking of father or mother, and looking forward with such happy anticipations to the time, when
: VCLLettersHoutsAnnie1869003004
they will meet one or both, think it is very hard, that I should have, so early, been deprived of both. But when I think how much better off I am than many a poor orphan, how good God has been to me In giving me, brothers, aunts and many kind friends to care for me, when I so little deserve any, I am rebuked, and ready to fall to the dust with shame for daring to quarrel with such gracious Providence.
The girls are all studying, perhaps I should be doing the same.
One of them just remarked "Why, Glid, have you got all your lessons for tomorrow?" I guess I will have to look over them a little yet this evening, but there's plenty of time. We are taking pretty long lessons in Cicero now, as we want to finish this oration before Christmas. What do you say to my coming here four years ? I don't know yet how the course will be arranged, but I have a desire to take the regular course. However, I think probably I can accomplish my work in three, and I guess I will be willing to
The girls are all studying, perhaps I should be doing the same.
One of them just remarked "Why, Glid, have you got all your lessons for tomorrow?" I guess I will have to look over them a little yet this evening, but there's plenty of time. We are taking pretty long lessons in Cicero now, as we want to finish this oration before Christmas. What do you say to my coming here four years ? I don't know yet how the course will be arranged, but I have a desire to take the regular course. However, I think probably I can accomplish my work in three, and I guess I will be willing to
: VCLLettersHoutsAnnie1869003005
leave school, by that time. Though I am so much accustomed to school-life, I don't know hardly how I'll conduct myself, when I am free from such fetters. I guess I will always stay at "Vassar", and perhaps some-day attain the honor of "lady-principal-ship." No, I have no such ambition, but really. If I ever should teach, I would like to teach here. The teachers all have nice salaries, and don't any of them, teach more than four hours a day. Then Prof. Knapp has a class in German for the teachers so they can pursue that study. Our ink is getting pretty thick, and I cannot see the lines of this paper, so you see I am laboring under difficulties. In two weeks is vacation and the girls all go away. One of my parlor-mates is going to stay. I am going to spend my time reading, writing, and skating if there is any ice. There is a poor show for it now. The weather is unusually warm. You say you heard from Carlos. I wish he would favor me in a like manner. I wrote to him a few days after I first came here, but never a scratch of the
: VCLLettersHoutsAnnie1869003006
pen have I had from him. I think I'll have to do, as I did with you, keep writing until I get some response. I am much pleased to hear the "Spader" is to prove successful, for both of your accounts. I should like to see you all tonight, and the baby, most of all. I am
very anxious to get a peep at it. Sallie wrote me it looked just like our mother's babies. If it it looks like Cora or George, I know it is pretty; but I can't say about the rest.
Well, I must look at my lessons a little, though I think I've about mastered them. Give love to Mary, Charlie, the baby, and last but not least, in stature or in love, your own self.
Wishing you a happy good-night, I remain,
Your loving sister
Annie.
P.S. I will take back what X said in my last, and ask you to write soon, often, and as much as you can. Yours etc. Annie
very anxious to get a peep at it. Sallie wrote me it looked just like our mother's babies. If it it looks like Cora or George, I know it is pretty; but I can't say about the rest.
Well, I must look at my lessons a little, though I think I've about mastered them. Give love to Mary, Charlie, the baby, and last but not least, in stature or in love, your own self.
Wishing you a happy good-night, I remain,
Your loving sister
Annie.
P.S. I will take back what X said in my last, and ask you to write soon, often, and as much as you can. Yours etc. Annie
