H.M.A. S. Hadley Dec 23d 1865
Saturday 330 P.M.My Kate,
I am through with composition, and all my exercises of to day, and my next and pleasantest duty is to thank yo for remembering me so soon with such a good letter.
Yes dear Kate, we will "begin anew" this term and write often. Since I came back time has not passed so quickly as last term. Home and home friends occasionally come between me and the book, and I miss Jane [?] and darling Willie so much. I think there must have been something very interesting about my eyes while at Springfield as the people cast a pitying glance at me.
I presume you have heard through Mother that they reached Toledo safely Thursday night. We found at Manchester a gentleman with his family going to Cleveland, which relieved us both of some anxiety.
My roommate met me at Nashua. And Seminary girls joined us at every station, to S. Hadley. Where we arrived about three o'clock. Much earlier than I anticipated, tho' quite reconciled, as it gave us time to unpack our trunks and get every thing arranged for the next day.
There are several new scholars and in some of them I can see just how I looked and appeared the first week.
It has been terribly cold this week, and such high winds never experienced, not even in Chicago I think being in the fourth story we had the whole benifit. [sic]
Thursday noon I was excused from table, and while all were in the dining Hall I heard an awful crash, and then the rattling of window shades. I know something had happened in Miss Blanchard's (a teacher) room and went in. There strewn all over the floor were the fragments of three large pains [sic] of glass which the wind alone had broken, the shutters being firmly fastened. There were so many windows broken just so, in this story. This P.M. many of the girls are out skating. I thought if you was here to go with me, I would learn, but as Julia does not skate, hardly think I shall attempt it this winter. How I wish you could go to walk with me to night, I have got to go alone.
Evening.
Just now one of the girls came to my room saying Mrs Stoddard wanted to see me in her room. I hear the girls are summoned into her presence, unexpectedly. It is with fear and trembling, they obey. You may imagine my face to fall several degrees as I descended to 138, and again to brighten up quite as much as I learned it was only for my tuition. I was sent round to other rooms [to] spread the dreaded call.
Dear Kate Christmas is again almost here. What are you going to do? I presume you all will meet in the evening [at] Mr Lund's. I shall think of you and the pleasant Christmas evenings I have spent there. I hope I may be at home a year from this Christmas to dear Grandma Tappan's Gold
enWedding. We have only half hour recitations Monday, getting through with all exercises at 3-30. P.M. from this time we can visit, in the evening the parlors are to be opened and all meet together there and in Seminary Hall to have a good time generally, our section are going to give our teacher Miss Haynes, a Photograph Album. A great many of the girls make presents among themselves, but 28 doesn't seem inclined that way much.What a nice time you will have at Boston. O Kate it is not a great way
fromto Mt Holyoke when the "Engine fugits" so fast. Wont you please come out and see your old chum some Tuesday as Wednesday is recreation and I could visit? how I do wish you would. It seemed as tho' I hardly saw you at home my vacation was so short and sort of confused.Georgie Bailey came in to see me Monday before I came back. I am real glad she has decided to go to school rather than to Lowel [sic], to work in the Mills.
The bell for study hours has rung and I must bid you Good night. Please give my love to all your folks. My love for Kate has no bounds.
Write often
Hattie.I have chrochet [sic] me a hood and commenced the border, but having seen various patterns, are confused them with your's which I like best. I would like, if you will please, send me a little pattern in your letter. A great many of the girls are making those square hoods.
Monday morning.
A Merry Christmas to all.
Hattie.