[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Mt. Holyoke College
So Hadley, Mass.
Oct. 4, 1897Dear Exits,
It isn't time for your letter but as I am not very busy this evening I though[t] it might be begun so that it might get there by Thursday. There isn't any news as I know of. They are laying a sidewalk from the store to the school house. That will be quite an improvement. The dust here is something thick. This room could be dusted to advantage three times a day. There is a mosquito on the wall in front of me. It looks very harmless - tomorrow evening the seniors recieve [sic] the freshmen across the hallway. Faculty meeting this evening so Miss Nutting, who is too tired to go out, A Richardson and I have charge of the house. The girls are a little noisy but guess the house must come down - I am getting pretty sleepy - wish it were ten -
Well it is ten in about ten minutes I shall be sound asleep. The freshmen appetites are all here and include most of the people. It is fortunate our table is near the serving room - Tuesday am nearly chapel time. Guess I will go to Springfield Wednesday. May and may not. Guess I wont [sic] get a fall strain but a felt that can be warm through the winter.
A piano has just been put in the parlors and directly it was put in use and is going all the time. They will get used to it soon.
Wednesday morning the piano is still going. This letter didnt [sic] get finished yesterday. Last evening was the senior reception to the freshmen. The lights were out and I was in bed at eleven. For supper last evening we had corn meal mush bread butter and doughnusts [sic] - It is a little cloudy but know [sic] about Springfield. Dont care much about going.
Your letter and one from Charles came yesterday afternoon. I should be glad not to have the school teachers in my hands, and I am of the opinion that you had better not try to go to Liberty Hill this winter. You had better tell them to look out for another speaker for the winter at least. My japanese lantern I hung on the transom and it is getting ruined very fast, the bottom is split and the paper is getting torn. I must get some curtains today and get them up - ought to clean my room too.
The Botany people are going to the mountain pasture today if it clears up must get out orders for some more books and get
some orderthem out before ten - Then must write a little to Charles. If I get down there Thanksgiving can I get back here by two o'clock Friday? This is a choppy letter.Goodbye
Seraph