MHS So. Hadley Oct 1st 1869.
Dear Cousin.
I received your welcome letter a few nights ago and of course was very glad to hear from you. I received one from Aunt Lucie at the same time. I dont believe anyone can realize how much pleasure letters give me unless they have had the same experience It has been very lonesome here at times but I begin to like it better than I did at first ; we are getting more settled the examinations are about over with and we all have studies now.
The custom here is to change roommates after about three weeks, we change next Wed I expect my roommate will be Miss Cahill if the principal will let us room together I do not like the idea of changeing [sic] much[.]
They have changed my domestic work. I am now on the Circle of washing bakeing [sic] tins, I guess you would be surprised if you could see them after they are done, there is a very long table piled full as it can be of that kind of dishes. I have to work only 45 min.
Wednesday's we have extra work mine is wiping the dining hall a half an hour it takes about eight to finish it; it is so large last Wednesday I broke a lamp chimney in the hall in my hurry, I think the old saying is true "haste makes waste"
Saturdays we have to spend
anthree hours and a half on a composition, we hand them in once in two weeks making seven hours on one composition a long while I think.We have 44 rules and it is something to keep them all too I find.
If you had known how much you made me want some peaches you would not have told me about them I dont believe, if I had only been at your house this fall I would have given a good deal.
We had peaches one day here after dinner we had two apiece and thought that quite a treat. Why didn't you do up some in a paper and send them along?
We had grapes the other day after dinner but of course we did not have all we wanted[.] If I could only have ate them as we did once at home I presume I should have been satisfied but I dont know as I shall have that chance again not for one while at least.
You said you are carrying most of your apples up to our house so I shall expect to have all I want when I go home. There are a few apple trees back of the Sem. they are winter apples, and if you could see the girls after them you would almost think they never had seen any others, but they last good if they are hard and sure. [?]
I can not think of much else to write so will have to close, be sure and write all the news if there is any when you answer which I how will be soon; remember me to all the folks, and accept this hastily written letter from
Cousin Clara.