Dear Mamma:-This is the fourth Sunday of the term, and I am glad so many are gone, for it is hot work studying. But it is valuable. Next winter I shall be glad I did it. The lectures in physiology by Dr. Zuntz this week have been especially fine.
Yesterday Anne and I joined a Botany trip to Enfield Gorge, said to be the worst picturesque one around here. We wore sneakers so as to be able to wade in and out as we pleased. We did it too - for it was far easier to wade up the brook than to clib along the bank. There were several fine falls in the 2 1/2 miles we walked, and at the end a fall of over 200 feet, almost in in one leap - very fine indeed. The water was too low for the best effect, of course but it was well worth going for. We climbed up the 400 feet of cliff beside the fall - very steep - but the view from the top was splendid. The ride out and back we enjoyed much too as it was a cool clear day. I saw quite a lot of new flowers and ferns.
When I got home I found a postal card from Lucy Baker who will probably come to spend next Saturday and Sunday with me. She is to be comparatively near hear, at Elmira, with her aunt. We can go off on some expedition Saturday if it is pleasant. There is one more I am anxious to take before leaving.
Tomorrow we have another examination in Chemistry. It is a lot of work to study up for the things. I worked all day Friday except for two early lectures, and last evening, tho I was rather sleepy then.
Mrs. Smith had decided to go to Whiteface, but in a letter I had this morning Miss Smith said her mother had heard from one of the pleasant acquaintances she had made made [sic] at Pemaquid, and it had stirred her all up again. Maud and Helen leave tomorrow.
Anne is catching flies with her insect net! They waked me up at five this morning. She must have caught eight or ten already I've caught a lot, too.
Did you get the corset-cover pattern? I hope the woman can make them. If she can baste a thin one and an ordinary one I'll do the fitting. I put directions on the pattern. Perhaps she'd better not make the tucks quite as high up as I indicated.
I walked down to the station in the marshes with Anne this afternoon just to see the place. It is a long way off from anywhere - right out in the middle of the marshes, but there are things there all right. Dr. Needham surely ought to be able to do things under natural conditions all right. It took us about two hours to go down and back, and we didn't stay looking about more that [sic] half an hour.
Your birthday comes this week and I tried to buy you a fan here, but didn't see anything I thought you'd like. I'll get one in Boston unless there is something you'd like better. The train I'd planned to go on doesn't go anymore, so I shall probably go on Saturday, leaving here at 8 A.M. and getting to Boston at 8:30 P.M. if I make connections. Then I'll call over on Flora and Uncle Cleveland Sunday afternoon. That'll cut out my trip down the Harbor but I can get on without it.
Had a postal from Gertrude Hyde this week, sent from Rome. She's having a good time.
Elizabeth McKee sent me a fine traveling case this week for my various little things - comb, tooth-brush &c. Her mother has been away some over two weeks, and now the aunt who has lived with them since the fire is having a sick spell. I guess Elizabeth has enough to do. She's tutoring a stupid Wellesley girl too - one who flunked her Freshman math.
I don't believe i want any more shirt waists bought. I want some, but I'd rahter get the cloth and have them made or make them myself.
I guess it would be a good idea to ask Mr. Clough the valuation of the property. He would be a btter one to ask, I think, than the tax-collector. If that cloth you spoke of has any grey in it, you might send me some samples - but I don't want anything very heavy. I'm not hurting my coats much here. Haven't had on anything except my raincoat, and only three times, I think.
I must stop now as it is nearly supper time.
Love to all and to you,
AbbyAug. 2.
Hope you will have a very pleasant birthday