[Full date was deciphered by the reference to Friday May 15, and knowing that the postmark is typical of the mid-1840s.]Holyoke May 5.
Thank you, my dear Mrs. G., for your last kind letter and invitation to Miss Lyon & Fanny to spend vacation with you. I need not say it will be most readily complied with, on my part at least, for you must remember my strong tendency of old to spring back to your home whenever removed from it, and too how utterly useless it was even to carry me away, for though repeatedly done a few days at most always found me on the spot again.
Delighted was I to walk into your nursery by your polite invitation a few days ago, and examine its contents. Not so many Greek and Roman poets and heroes to stumble over to get there as you might imagine, nor so many lines angles & circles to wipe from my spectacles. The transition from my own snug little room to yours was easy and with your graphic description, very little imagination was necessary to see you all "large as life," acting over the performances of other days.
I hope soon to realize it all more perfectly. Vacation commences Friday May 15. on which day I hope to see all your dear faces within your own - may I not say my own? - dear home.
As it is probably very important for you to be apprised of such an event at an early hour, I should have written you before, had we not been obliged to wait several days for the decision of the question whether Miss L. & I might be allowed to make an exception to the general law that no one must leave for vacation until the ten o'clock stage. A council composed of the three chief dignitaries of our house was called and in consideration of the peculiar circumstances of the case it was unanimously agreed tht [sic] we might leave in the earliest stage and take the six o'clock train of cars. Accordingly you may expect us in Hartford by the first arrival from Springfield, Friday morning, of next week. If not convenient do not come for us as we can take the stage and ride out to B. I understand there are two passing through B. daily and I think we could contrive to seats in one. We shall probably be obliged to take each a trunk. I would not if I could well avoid it as they are so much trouble to transport.
Now I must tell you Miss Lyon's plans. She has ascertained that the meeting of the Baptist Board is held in Brooklyn during vacation and as she has never been able to attend one on account of being engaged in school she is very desirous to be present at this one. She therefore proposes to make you a short visit on her way and leave for Brooklyn Monday morn. If not too much interested and occupied she will return and spend the last few days of vacation with us but I imagine there will be so much to take up her time and so many friends claiming a short visit from her that we shall not see her after Monday. I regret it; for she is one of those ladies whose company is better than her room.
Miss L. has been quite of health during most of the winter and confined to her room by a scrofulous affection of the ankle.She is now lame, unable to walk much, but thinks if careful she can safely travel. She sends loves & thanks for your invitation. She says till "Mrs. G. I am considerably skilled in her favorite science, having practiced as long and on as many subjects, and that the only difference between you is that you are professor and she assistant professor.["] Thinks she shall want to play some tunes upon that new instrument! If I had forgotten all her messages you must wait till we come for them.
We have been favored too with a short visit from Miss Catharine Beecher & her brother on their way to Brattleboro. Miss B. addresses usa afew words on the subject in which you probably know she much interested at present - the education of the west by means of benevolent young ladies who are willing to endure its privations, & overcome the difficulties of establishing schools in its destitute portions.
You may have seen her and her sister Mrs. Stowe who accompanies her to Brattleboro. - A bell calls. I must away.
Another bell - we do everything by bells here. Sends me to my room and gives a few moments to finish my writing.
Yesterday I had a letter from my friend Ada Mills written to ask me to make her house my home during vacation. I should be most happy to do so did not the stone-house with its wide open door stand in my way and had it not been first
firstto invite me to enter and apparently so sincere & so many times proved its sincerity not by word only but by very deed. Please say to Ada if you see her that as it is she need not expect to see me Friday but I will gladly improve the first opportunity of paying her a visit. I shall not have time to write her and she said she should expect me unless she heard from me.No time to say any thing about the birds except that in my walk yesterday I discovered a new one and to day Oriolus has been calling me from a neighboring orchard to come out and look at him. But I had a book in my hand and could not go. Had it been a dish cloth - how quickly would I have answered to the call.
I wish Miss L. could meet Isabella at your house. She would be so much pleased to see her. But I did not mean to write half so much. So far I mean, and have such a deal of things to do this eve and to morrow - (recreation day) I must stop short.
Love love love to each & all not excepting the "judge & his shadow" SHould you think best to come for us and not reach H. before the cars I will leave my card at Mrs. Hinckley's shop as I shall be obliged to call there.
Yours, Fanny L. B.