Vassar College Digital Library

Warner, Martha S. | to mother, Jan. 1866:

Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Access Control
Date
January 21, 1866
Abstract
VC 1868
Transcript file(s)
Details
Identifier
vassar:25179,,Box 63,VCL_Letters_Warner_Martha-S_1868_023
Extent
1 item
Type
Rights
For more information about rights and reproduction, visit http://specialcollections.vassar.edu/policies/permissionto.html

 


: VCLLettersWarnerMarthaS1868023001
Vassar College
Jan. 21st 1866

My dear, dear Mother,
Hattie has gone to Bible Class, Minnie to church, Emma to Missouri and I am snugly ensconced before the register, looking very much, as if I had been indulging in a prize fight, from which I had come off, forty-second best. (Yesterday my left eye seemed altogether minus, but in the course of the day was induced to make its appearance, by the aid of some warm soap suds. I am nearly, but not quite, as wonderfully beautiful, as last winter when I astonished the natives. The pain is almost entirely gone, and nothing remains but for the swelling to go and do likewise. So that by the time this reaches you, very likely I shall be around again,

 


: VCLLettersWarnerMarthaS1868023002
a mere representative of commonplacedom. You have no idea how kind Mrs. Tenney has been to us - She has come every day to inquire for me, furnished us with hope and hot water, brought me most elegant tapioca pudding, and canned peaches, offered us a lounge and been our ministering angel generally - If ever I can won't I enjoy assisting her? Miss Avery has been to see me every day, and one night gave me some medecine, to make me sleep. I have had a perfect shower of letters, they couldn't have come more opportunely if you had known that I was sick. Thursday came one from Sara, good too. Friday morning one from Carrie and in the afternoon, Helen's magnificent long letter and a copy of the "Nation" and "Every Saturdays" from Charlie - Wasn't that a harvest worth having? Please tell Nellie that I shall answer her just as soon as my health permits me to
I don't see how this got so ruffed

 


: VCLLettersWarnerMarthaS1868023003
give the subject the consideration it deserves - I should never have an easy conscience if I should put her aside with such a letter as this - Emma had a letter from Aunt Martha the other day in which after various and sundry rather disparaging remarks, she said "she was very sorry that the standard of the College was not equal to Holyoke, as she had hoped it might be." Emma's wrath was fully roused, and last night read us her reply, in which she puffed the College up to the sky, and puffed Hattie and I on top of that till we entirely disappeared in the blue - She stated among other things that Miss Mitchel said she never knew a young lady of her (Hattie's) age who had had so thorough a Math, training - I don't think Father need worry about our being favorites here. Minnie is undoubtedly one of the most, if not the most, popular

 


: VCLLettersWarnerMarthaS1868023004
girls here, both with the teachers and scholars. Hattie is very much liked too, but doesn't begin to be as well known as Minnie. As for me I don't suppose one half of the girls are aware of my existence and the teachers barely. Miss Lyman doesn't trouble herself about us one way or the other, altho' she is always very kind when she has occasion to be any thing - Mother, I want to see you very much as Nell says, "the nearer the time grows the more
impatient I am," but I must confess that the time doesn't seem marvelously near to me yet. I suppose you have seen Mrs. Dickinson and heard all about us. I am so glad it wasn't Mr. D. because a lady can give so much more satisfactory discriptions than a man. We live in hopes of seeing you some time in the spring - I don't see but I have used up all my paper, and not said anything - an unheard of event with me, attribut-

 


: VCLLettersWarnerMarthaS1868023005
able solely to the state of my health, which by the way has perceptibly diminished since I commenced - If you have any difficulty in deciphering this don't injure yourself it is not worth it -

Good bye, with a heart full of love, Mattie -
Tell Willie that if he hasn't time to write to me - I shall be obliged to answer my own letter instanter