South Hadley, Mass.,
Mar. 1, 1908.Dear Sister:-
I thought that if I didn't go to church to-day I would have lots of time to write letters but it is time for the first dinner-bell to ring, and this is the first letter I have started. I don't know where the time went to. I fixed up my room, and did odds and ends among other things fixed my memory book. I hadn't put anything in since Semesters so you see there was quite a little to go in. Margaret didn't get up until about ten. She feels a good deal better but gets tired very easily. She went down to dinner last night & plans to go out to her classes to-morrow. In searching through my desk, I found three letters that I wrote two weeks ago & never mailed - one to Cousin Lizzie, one to Elsa, and one to Addie. I didn't have any stamps at the time & so I forgot them. I was disgusted. However I am going to send them on. I can not waste my time writing three extra ones. I shall send a couple of dirty waists to Auntie and some Mt. Holyokes to you to-morrow (if I don't forget it.) to-morrow. [sic]
When I went to Gym yesterday, I found that I knew absolutely nothing. I have never had any apparatus work, and so I have to begin at the very beginning. I didn't dare try the jumping for the others were used to
useit & had the rope up so high I was afraid of it. I tried hanging, and am so lame to-day that I can hardly move.Well, I have had an afternoon of it. I saw Ruth McGregor in the P.O. corridor yesterday P.M. & she said that her mother was here & wanted me to come over to her room after dinner to-day. Of course I went. Ruth was up at Brigham to dinner & hadn't got back when I arrived so I waited. Before long she came in bringing not only her mother but her cousin, Mr. Fred Sanderson's son. We talked a few minutes. Then Ruth brought in some of her friends and Mr. Sanderson told us about when he was travelling in Italy, how near he came to getting killed at the time when Mt. Vesuvius erupted. I will tell you about it when I go home. Ruth had some candy so we had a nice social time. Mr. Sanderson sends his
kinbest regards to anyone whowamight know him and I think Mrs. McGregor did. Well, when I got home I went straight to the bulletin board & found that he was the minister this A.M. He speaks to-night so I shall hear him. I am the envy of all the girls for having met him. He is ever so nice. He is rather stout & doesn't look especially brilliant but "looks are often-times deceitful["] & I guess this is one of the times. I went into Bessie's room when I got home & found them making fudge so of course I stayed. There was a Y.W.C.A. meeting this P.M. led by a noted man Mr. Spear, who is very fine. While I was in Bessie's room, Jessie Willis came in with Elizabeth & took Bessie, Katherine & I with her & Elizabeth to the meeting. I was glad she came for the speaker was fine. When I got back, as soon as I got into our room, I saw that something was wrong with Margaret I soon found out that she was desperately homesick. Elizabeth came in & to-gether we tried to comfort her. I finally went down into Marion's room & got a book & we read aloud. Helen Kurtz wasn't going to Vespers so Margaret stayed with her to-night & is all right now I guess. Vernette was feeling bad about something & wouldn't come in to supper but afterwards went into the dining-room to get some salad. It had all been taken out into the kitchen & we started out after some & got out in the kitchen & there sat Miss Smith. We were both frightened stiff but she was just as nice as she could be. She came to dinner to-day, the first time she has been to table since the night we carried on so. Elizabeth & I went to Vespers to-gether. I liked Mr. Sanderson, as a minister very much.Yesterday P.M. about four o'clock Elizabeth Sheffield & I went for a walk. I knew a road that I wanted to explore & we did. We thought we should strike another road that would take us back but we didn't & walked & walked & finally turned around & came back part way & cut cross lots over the fields. The crust bore us so it was good walking. When we came to a stream I got across all right but Elizabeth got one foot wet. In going through one of the numerous barbed wire fences that we came to I tore a little hole in my coat. Woe! We got home about 6:15. Neither of us got any cold or are tired to-day so it was all right & we had considerable fun even if we did take a longer walk than we intended to. In the evening Elizabeth & I went to a meeting of the "College Settlement Association" to hear a lady lecture on "College Settlement" work. The Sophomores in Wilder had a great time last night. They all dressed up & paraded around & I think gave a little play somewhere.
The "Frat" banquet was last night. A rather curious thing has happened. Marion Osbourne, the Junior president, & her room-mate, the Junior Vice president & her room-mate & another Junior & her room mate have just been taken into a Frat or some Frats. It seems
the Juthat the Junior class is very much opposed to Frats & for the sake of the class Marion who has been asked to join several times waited until after the Prom. It was quite a surprise to have six of the Juniors go at once though.Don't you think it is getting warm enough (Ahem) for me to wear my silk dress Sundays? Don't you think that Auntie could put a straight strip of cloth on my embroidered waist for a collar just as if it was the collar. I don't like to wear seperate [sic] collars with it & it would look much better if it had a collar firmly attached. I must stop & try to write another letter before ten. Just think I am coming home this month.
With a great deal of love to you all,
Molly.