Dear Mamma:-I hope before this you have had rain for we have had showers for several days, and things must be quite refreshed, I think. It has cooled down some, too, though I haven't worn a coat since I've been here, day or evening, except my rain coat once noon.
I've gotten the pictures from Nashua. The one of the Lovell house is good, but the Prospect Hill one isn't. Evidently I moved the camera. The developing and printing wasn't done very well this time either. I sent most of the Buckland ones to Miss Smith for her to see, but while I was sewing yesterday afternoon I made a few blue prints which I'll put in. [The photographs are no longer with the letter.] The paper was about gone by, so they don't look as clear as the films. The one of Dea. Warfield is good - not good of Mrs. Warfield. The one from his pasture is good, with the little town down below. From the town I took the one of East Mount that shows the Warfield House, and the pasture is up behind and at the right of the house. We went up on the roundest hill, where I took the sheep. The brook I took when I was in wading, and the one of Ashfield pond the day we went over there. The one in the pine woods is not very good, still it looks like the place. Wish I'd left Elizabeth out. These are the best ones, and as I say, the films are better than you'd think from the prints. You needn't send them back. Guess I'll get two or three printed here to send to Mrs. Warfield's for I think she'd like to see them.
Miss McWalter can't make my skirt in August, so now I'm thinking of going up to Whiteface as soon as possible, and then stopping on my way back. I investigated one place here, but I can't find any goods I like. Anne [perhaps Anna Morgan] and I went down last night. This business of clothes is a nuisance, but I have to have
to havesome. If I do stop on my way back, I guess I'll stay over Sunday with Elizabeth in Chelsea, and call over to see Flora & Uncle Cleveland either Sat. P.M. or Sun. - that is, if I can manage to get away from here the same day the work closes, Friday.The man whom I saw last night about a skirt says plaits are going out - that the fall skirts are going to be plain with considerable flare, and that folds are going to be used a great deal - rather wide single folds, I judge. I didn't get any information about waists.
Miss Smith says it is very dry in Newburyport. They can't use water for sprinkling at all, and even the big trees are shrivelling.
Yesterday I went into some of the buildings here to see Zoo. collections. They have a very famous collection of hundreds of human brains. Some are splendidly prepared to show special things. I got quite a few points. I want to spend a day or two in the library looking up books, for things of that sort are quite as valuable as the work in the courses.
Miss Smith sent me a letter from Miss Purington in which she said that Mary Lyon Hall was struck by lightning and a big hole knocked in the tower - also that one of the big elms in front was half blown down. Mr. Hill has been sent away to rest.
Anne has found another new insect probably. They are may-flies - and the group has never been studied very much. They live in the water a while and then fly a short time, only three or four days usually. These are about as large as house flies, but some are smaller, some larger. It is great fun to watch them in the water.
Love to all and to you,
Abby.