February 22, 1910.
My dear Mrs. Turner:
Many of my fellow countrymen are celebrating tonight by having a dinner together with a speech by Hon. David Hill, our ambassador here, but I decided to save my shekels and gain a little time for writing letters. It was very good of you to write to me. That poor little Christmas card did not deserve so much. I suppose you are missing Jessie - I don't know her new name - very much. And I hope the wedding did not leave you all very tired. I remember decidedly the after feelings of my sister's wedding. Abby wrote me of your illness and I do hope you wont have a return of it. My mother says very little about her health, but I am afraid she is working hard. There is always so much to be done at my sister's and she has never learned to spare herself. I am hoping that it will be possible to have mother at South Hadley for a part at least of next writer and I wish you were to be there, too. It seems to me the very best thing for Abby to take another year. Every year she waits, the work will grow harder, and she ought to have the degree at once for various reasons. I wish I knew where to find a thousand dollars for her. How gladly I would secure it! But things do work around in a wonderful way. I have no doubt that all the problems will straighten themselves out in good time.
A week from today I leave Berlin and I am so busy doing last things. It will be a real trial to go, for I have enjoyed the city very much. I go from here to Leipzig, then on to Weimar and Eisenach, on my way to Göttingen. It is very trying that the summer semester opens so late, officially April 15, really they say, not much before the first of May, and the end is advertised as Aug. 15. How different that is, from our schedule, is it not? I shall leave Göttingen about the middle of June, being due in Ober Ammergau the 19th. and my home passage is engaged for the very last of the month. That precious receipt for my steamer berth I do like to look at very well - This land is all very nice, but I still love the States better - and I shall be so glad to see New England once more -
Yours with love,
S. E. Smith.
