Vassar College Digital Library

Williams, Ellen | to family, n.d.:

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Date
n.d.
Abstract
VC Spec 1865-1866
Transcript file(s)
Details
Identifier
vassar:25268,,Box 22,VCL_Letters_Williams_Ellen_1865-1866_003
Extent
1 item
Type
Rights
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: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866003001
[undated, incomplete I]
...perhaps you would like to hear a little about what we are doing here.
Nellie left Thursday morning and very much we have missed her I can assure you. It hardly seemed like the same room for a few days. The President has not recovered yet though he is much better now, so we have no Philosophy and we take that time for reading We have over half finished the Pathfinder and I am accomplishing quite a good deal in the way of work. As one proof of it perhaps Louise will show you a little nec-ribbon I sent her yesterday We think them quite pretty here as they are something new. I have a green one with white ends. We have visiting here with us at present Dr Goodell from Turkey

 


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and it is of him I wish to write you this morning. He has been a missionary there for about thirty five years and was one who translated the Bible into that language. He and his wife came Friday and are to be here over to-morrow. He is quite aged and wears an odd little velvet cap, rather darkish is Zinl appearance. He is to preach for us this afternoon but this morning we had no bible classes and he spoke to us after chapel for about half an hour telling us about Turkey & his labours there. He seems to be quite jolly and made us laugh several times. He told us about one old lady who was learning to read and as her eyesight was quite poor she bought a pair of spectacles and finding these improved her sight she bought another pair and then another, until she wore three pair. He said

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866003003
for his part he never could keep more than one pair on but this old lady would sit and look over her three pairs and ask him questions and though she asked some that were quite simple he believe she never asked any as simple as the Scotch woman he had heard of who asked her minister "what longer water" was She said she supposed it was some terriable kind, poisonous perhaps, for Peter told Paul to drink no longer water. The minister asked her what she thought it would mean if it were written:
drink water no longer, but she said she did not think it vas allowed us to
interfere with the order of God's Holy Word. Then he gave several pretty-
broad hits on the American people in general, during his remarks, which perhaps you would be glad to hear. He was speaking of his sunday-school which

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866003004
he said sometimes numbered ll*,000 and said he perhaps you would like to know how we accomodate so many First said he when we go to a place we take a house and use a large room in it. when that is filled we knock down the partition between it & one of the other rooms and so go on until all the house is filled and then we knock down all one side of the house and have all the room outside we want. Now, he said, you will ask what they do when it rains But, said he, they are not so afraid of Sunday rains as you American people. They do not make that nice discrimination between Sunday and Tuesday or other week day rains. They only learn that by coming here. Some of them came here and when they came back told their friends that if they wanted to be civilized christians they must learn to distinguish between a Sunday rain and a week day rain & be afraid of the former. Then we sung and he sung the same words in Turkish after we had finished he said they often sung over there the same tune but some would be singing greek others turkish etc. But he said it did not make much difference for it was somewhat as the singing here we could never understand what words were sung. Was not that good? we all laughed so- Then he

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866003006
act to know of any friends come who we are a little fearful may not gain
admittance unless they are some relation and we have been wondering how near we are related in this room for we are all from the same state and Emily and I have concluded we must be quite nearly related for she thinks her Father came from somewhere near here and that my grand Mother did. Don't you agree with us. However you must be tired e'er this of Dr Goodell and his views and as I see I am stringing out quite a lengthy epistle perhaps I had "better close and give you a chance for rest and meditation which you will certainly need after this unless I am much mistaken. Mary has just looked up with unfeigned surprise at my formidable array of scribbling and asked how much I am writing,

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866003007
and upon my informing her says she thought she was writing a long letter, but it is not so bad as this. So I think it time I stopped. Emily has thrown

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866003009

 


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transcript not available