Blooming Grove, N.Y.
Dec. 31st. 1870.My dear Friend
Your letter did not reach me so soon as it ought owing to its having been missent.
I have just returned from a two, weeks visit away from home, first to Drew, and then to bro. Em's in Brooklyn. It seemed good to be again among them all at Carmel and I guess they were glad to have me there.
Everyone has an earthly paradise somewhere on this mundane sphere. Mine is at Drew Sem. where is yours? It seemed strange to be there without seeing Miss Carleton, and to have Lu Ludington in her place. Mrs Spencer's health is very, very poor. I do not know whether I told you of her misfortune.
She had considerable property laid by about a year ago and intended in the Spring to commence housekeeping.
It seemed to be the one desire of her heart to do this - to have a home - but in some way they lost it all. Mrs. S. says God knows what he wants her to do and she is willing to do it. So they still teach. Maggie graduates next term. She has very much improved since you saw her, but she will sputter yet. Lu has any quantity of dignity on hand, but succeeds admirably as a teacher.
I spend a very pleasant week there, was present at my society reception, a programme of which I enclose [no longer with the letter] - and then spent another week with Em. There was quite a party of us there (six) and we made our own fun as we went along.
Came home last eve quite rested mentally, but bodily rather the worse for wear. Have made a business of sitting up nights till after twelve & consequently my eyelids have a way of dropping, which makes it quite unhandy to write. By the way, I stayed with Lou Amunson [?] in Peekskill one night on my way to Carmel and we discussed the old times, of course. Lou has made a very successful teacher, but has given out, as teachers have a way of doing and is now at home. There has been a glorious revival at C. Most of the seminary students and many in the village have been converted - I want to come & see you graduate this summer. I wonder if I can bring it about. As you didn't see me I ought to see you. There should be some seeing done, shouldn't there?
I wish I was your room-mate. I suppose our paths will never be side by side again this side of Heaven. But we have held sweet intercourse together in the past, & the memory of it is one of the sweetest I retain.
You ask if I like Whittier? He is my poet among the poets I think him one of the purest, sweetest writers I ever read. I have quantities of reading on hand now & mean to take latin [sic] lessons too. So I shall keep busy, I guess.
I want to watch the old year out & the new in but fear my head is going to ache so that I can not - I did enjoy Evidences, I believe, about the best of all my studies.
Who is your author. Hopkins was ours - I remember hearing you speak of your cousin Adella. One by one they are being gathered for us - May the New Year be indeed a happy one to you, dear Sophie, & find us both with a record well kept and many garnered shares as an offering to our Master -
Your ever loving
Hattie.Write me soon.