Vassar College Digital Library

Woodworth, Mary | to mother, May 1868:

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Date
May 17, 1868
Abstract
VC 1870
Transcript file(s)
Details
Identifier
vassar:25313,,Box 23,VCL_Letters_Woodworth_Mary_1870_018
Extent
1 item
Type
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: VCLLettersWoodworthMary1870018001
Vassar College.
Sab. Morn May 17. 1868

My dearest mother

You will be disappointed as I am that this letter can contain nothing about the box for it did not come and will not till tomorrow or Tuesday at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. Schou said it would take at least four days for it would come by a Freight train most of the way. I was afraid when I knew that it did not start Tuesday Wednesday morning, that it would not come and Mr. Schou confirmed my fears. It is of no consequence at all however and if It had come it might have disturbed my quiet Sunday. A nice long letter from Jennie Colby yesterday helped me bear the disappointment with the greatest cheerfulness.

 


: VCLLettersWoodworthMary1870018002
Jennie is having a week's vacation now but it will close next Tuesday. Miss Carpenter will not stay at St. Johnsbury any longer. She went back to Conn, last Tuesday. Mrs. Colby's health is very delicate and Jennie has many fears for her. Jamie had an original declamation at the close of the spring term and made himself almost sick over it. How nice it is for her to have such a nice situation in the academy Mother she is the lonliest girl I ever saw I really believe.

She has accidentally discovered that Mr. Ide and I correspond and asked me if I had lost all confidence in her so that I would not tell her.

The girl went into his room to take care of it during breakfast and saw a letter on the table directed to me. She told Jennie and it afforded herself and Miss Carpenter considerable surprise. She says they were very de-

 


: VCLLettersWoodworthMary1870018003
-sirous to bring him a letter from me but he was always at the office first and had baffled all their efforts. I think the whole affair is perfectly ludicrous. I am perfectly willing she should know it, but I did not want to tell her. We are having another little bit of pleasant weather. Saidee thinks of wearing a barige this afternoon to chapel. I shall wear my green silk I think. We are having such lively times collecting wild flowers. W e have thirty six specimens already. Laura and Mary went off yesterday and got eight new ones. I put them in press which was quite a piece of work. I have a tin botany case which is very nice for the purpose. It is about a foot and long and oblong. It looks so funny to see a group of girls start off in gymnastic suits with these cases strapped on over their shoulders by the cord.

 


: VCLLettersWoodworthMary1870018004
Our new professor of Nat. History is a very fine instructor, Prof. Tenney's superior in that respect, but he can never go beyond him in others.

An old teacher of Miss Lyman, Mrs. Bannister, is visiting her now. She is the Miss Grant who taught so much with Mary Lyon at Ipswich

I think I have not written you that Miss Lyman returned three weeks ago. We were all very glad to see her again You ask what day I shall be at home. Friday - June 26th. five weeks from next Friday

I am glad I can go some other way than by Springfield for there is to be a Masonic festival there the 24th. and I should not like to stop at a hotel alone with such a rush.

We cannot make very good connections if we go from here to Albany in a boat, so we have almost decided to start from here at 3 o'clock on

 


: VCLLettersWoodworthMary1870018005
Thursday morning - going by cars to Troy in season to take the morning train to
Whitehall. Your daughter will have the honor of skimming through Saratoga, which will be sufficient ground for a story that I "spent some time at Saratoga." Saidee says "give my love to your mother and tell her I am enjoying life and so are you (me)." Miss Penfield says "tell her you have got one of Job's comforters" which is literally true, but it is not very large nor painful much of the time. Don't waste any pity on me for it will be better by the time you get this. We got news last night of Johnson's acquittal by one vote. I do think it is such a disgrace but as Prof. Ferrer says the world moves on no matter who is president. Jennie Colby writes that she shall want to vote if they do acquit Johnson and she thinks a congress of women would do better than this one. That is quite a concession for her to make. I guess we shall all vote before we die yet. By the by Nell Cross is somewhat disturbed by my opinions on the question of Woman's Rights. She

 


: VCLLettersWoodworthMary1870018006
wrote me a lot about it the other day. We were very glad when you mentioned in your letter that you had sent me some cake. Don't make any apologies for the prospect of cake from home let it be ever so bad is refreshing. Laura says she should like it if it were "heavy as lead and sour as swill" - so you need not fear but what it will be appreciated. Saidee is already talking about the letters we'll write to each other after we separate. I am going to the city after my suit comes and get a hat to match. I intend to get one that costs as little as possible. I shall get me some riding gloves also for I cannot get them at home and have got tired of borrowing every time I ride. Saidee and I are going to take a long ride Thursday. We expect to have a glorious time. I must not write any more now.

Lovingly
Mary.

[Mary (Parker) Woodworth, '70]