Seminary Sep 18th 1869
My dear Hattie
How I wish you could come in to see our room tonight - We have been having a jolly time sweeping up and dusting - getting ready for Sunday. Oh! I forget I have not yet told you of my long-looked-for and - as you will remember - my much anticipated Junior. Well she came last Tuesday night and she is a very nice girl indeed of course nice as that is the word that we Holyoke girls are recognized by - but she is more than nice. She is a very smart scholar, and good Christian girl. She is from Falmouth Mass. down on the sea coast. Her Father is a sea captain and is now in the Arctic ocean, on a whaling voyage. She has not seen him for three years, and hears from him only twice a year. What would you think of living so, and what do you suppose Mother would do if Father should live such a life. But Clara says that is the way they do down in those parts, and she seems to think it is all right. The name is not Ball, but Herendeen. Miss Ball was not well enough to come this fall and she waits until next winter term. Clara applied last summer and was rejected because they were so full, but there has been so many failures that they wrote her she might come.
She came with a Rev. Mr Kimball of Falmouth who is an acquaintance of Miss Ward & French - so that she is quite a good deal in favor.
She is not quite sixteen yet, but I never imagined it. I supposed her to be nearly eighteen till last night, and she was perfectly amazed to find that I was so aged.
My letter from Miss Bailey was so good, she inquired very particularly about your welfare &c. She says her "little sister Mat has taken a school of between forty and fifty scholars in the center of Tewksbury and if she succeeds it will be a success indeed. When her schoolmates in Lowell heard of it, they could hardly believe it; but as soon as they recovered from their surprise, they sent her several "Treatises on Teaching" tied up with a "switch"! Miss B. says she thinks that this "dash "in medias res" will help her out of the chaotic into the crystallized period" and adds "I should like to know where I should have been classed when I first went to Montague" She also speaks of having visions of Montague scenery - "glimpses of twilight landscapes, sunsets and nightly visions of the everlasting hills" She says that she has "taken to reading Biographies - not
ofthe Memoir of Miss Susan All-bore, and such, but real people who are delightfully human." That retiring bell will surely ring soon now that I have begun to write to you, and as I wish to put a little of English Literature into my head for next Monday I think I will leave the rest till some future time.I hope you are feeling much better to-night. I would so love to walk in there to night as you may well imagine.
Good night
Sister CorneliaMonday eve. Cannot write much tonight am reading "Gates Ajar" by piecemeal this week, and trying to read some in connection with my study, but find my time so completely filled up with things in general, that I have little time for reflection on any of the "blue or indigo topics" that I so often fall into at home. I just happened to thank [sic] of some of my strains that I so often sing in the dolorous tone. I presume you feel some like taking up the echo, these days - but it is all humbug - only we cant [sic] "see it in that light" always as I very well know.
Hattie I feel for you more than you think I do - I know just how you are feeling and I would give anything to be able to relieve you - But I am sure you will get thoroughly renovated and reconstructed 'ere long -
I must say good night
Your sister true
Cornelia