Mt. Hol. Sem. Feb. 11th.
1871.Dear Sister Martha
Rec'd your letter to night and was glad to hear from you. I will try and write a few lines to night though as I have only half an hour I presume I shall not be able to write much. You tell me not to worry about Moral Science. I don't . I am past that and think I should be past every thing else if I had it much longer, but we have only two more recitations before reviews, the rest of the time is to be given to Analogy. As a class we are nearly finished. Helen Angell has had to give up and go off and rest. She was crazy one day last week and cannot study at all. It commenced with a terrible headache and they were alarmed about her and sent her off to rest a few days, would not let her tell us where she was going but I suspect she has gone to visit Miss Childs. I do hope she will get better & be able to come back to us. My head has not troubled me so much aching. I have a general tired feeling and can't remember two minutes. I learn my lesson, go into class and get up to recite and have not an idea. I am so glad vacation is so near: less than four weeks now.
Yesterday a company of Shakers from Enfield came here on a visit. There was one middle-aged man (the only one) and a woman about his age the heads of the household and the
restremaining nine women were young. They were dressed in Shaker costume of course, white muslin cap and they were so neat. They were very much pleased with what they saw. The teachers showed them every thing of interest in the building. They went to see the gymnastic classes practice and Miss Bowers said they could tell just what each one of the girls had on. They went into the Library (which by the way is open to us now) and some of them almost cried to think that they could not have so many books to read. And then they came into Hall Exercise & the school sang parts of three hymns "Nearer My God to Thee" & two others and then they sang hymns expressive of their peculiar faith. But I could not make myself think of them as real persons. It seemed like a masquerade and others thought so too. But the retiring bell has run & I must stop.Feb. 13th. I must try and answer this letter now. Tomorrow is our last recitation in Wayland before reviews. We are Miss Ward says to take a Bird-eye view of the whole book. Speaking of Miss Ward reminds me that she sent her love to you or rather sends it. You have doubtless heard ere this of Mrs. Dole's death. Poor Amelia it was a hard trial for her and has placed a great care upon her. She wishes to take her Mother's place and keep the family together, but it seems a great deal for one so young to undertake. Miss Ward has just been lecturing us upon the rules: it makes me disgusted with the Sem. & every thing in it. I suppose it is necessary or she would not do it, but I am so sick of it. They have just rec'd a letter from Miss Feitcher and read a part of it in Devotions this morning it was very interesting. Miss Ward informed us that our conduct in Sem hall when the Shakers were here was unexceptionable. Have just rec'd a letter from Millie Dame she is holding a botanical correspondence with Carrie Wells of S- [Shelburne] Henry Well's daughter. Libbie wishes to be remembered to you. But I must close with much love I remain ever
your affectionate Sister
Mercy AndersonP.S. I suppose Susan has told you that John is not well and Uncle Robert has not been smart [?] this winter. We have no snow here until the last of January, but we have had weather cold enough to freeze steam pipes. Goodbye Mert