Dear Mamma:-The corset covers came Friday - but it's a miracle that I got them, for the box was reduced to two pieces of pasteboard, one of which had my name on and the string was entirely gone - just two pasteboards and two loose corset covers! She can't be an artist at doing up bundles. I'll try to start them back to her tomorrow. They seem all right, though of course a few changes are necessary.
I am glad Mr. Clough had some money for you, and I guess there'll be a tenant this fall all right. If you have enough to use for your dressmaking &c, wouldn't it be as well to let me pay those bills as you suggested, when I am there? I'm getting on pretty well, but my Ithaca lab. fees were about $10 more than I expected, and laundry here is very high. The dep't owes me about $20, I judge, though I haven't balanced the items recently, so if you are willing I'd like to have you write me an order for $30 so I can draw it from your account in Nashua. Of course there is the $10 interest, and $2 due for storage of goods in South Hadley as well as what I'll have to pay for the fixing of the chiffonier and so forth. I may not need to use it all, but I hate not to have one cent on hand, and I shall not get the Zoo. money for a week or two after college opens until the fees come in, nor any salary until Oct. 15. I can pay it back then all right. But Cornell was worth the money, I am sure. The work was excellent.
Miss Smith thanks you for the postal card.
We went out yesterday to get some fir balsam. I haven't room to take much back, but I can get in enough to put a little new in both pillows, I guess. There aren't as many trees here as at Pemaquid but still there is plenty of it.
We have had a fire in our fireplace nearly every evening this week, I think, but it is warmer today, and hazy. We planned to go up Whiteface tomorrow but it is so hazy I think we shall wait a little. Miss Purington leaves Thursday or Friday and we must go before then.
We went over to Wonalancet, five miles from here, to find out about the trail &c last Friday. It is evidently a very clear one so we expect to have no trouble. When we go Mr. Hoag will drive us that far and then meet us at the foot of the other trail by which we come down - not as long a drive as to Chocorua. I wish we could have as perfect a day!
I am trying to bleach out some of my handkerchiefs on the grass here, for they got very grey in Ithaca. Don't know how well I shall succeed.
A new family came yesterday - father, mother, two boys. I do hope they will make a little noise! It has been too quiet. Mrs. and Miss Buckingham go tomorrow and we shan't miss them a bit! I never knew anybody who stuck her fingers in where they weren't needed more persistently than Mrs. Buckingham. She's a terror. The daughter isn't as bad.
Better get Frank to open your pen. Don't try forceps again! If it sticks, put a rubber band around a few times either just above or below the joint. It gives something to hold on by. Or stick the whole thing into hot water just an instant. I'll fill it for you after you get back to South Hadley.
That reminds me - I should think you'd better wait and come with Louise if she is to start as soon as you said or thereabouts. It would be a pleasanter journey for you. But do as you think best. If you started the 24th, you could stay over Sunday in Boston and then come on the first of the week. I could plan to meet you in Springfield, though I have to look at my schedule first to know when my classes come. I haven't it here.
It is time to go to dinner, and I'm hungry. I was weighed the other day, and weight 135, as much as usual.
Love to you and to all.
Abby