Hol. Sem. So. Hadley, June 19, 1849.Dear Sister,
I received Theophilus' letter last week, and was truly thankful for it. I had become quite impatient of waiting to hear from you. Tell him I hope he will always be as kind, when you are so negligent in writing, and he shall be sure of my hearty thanks.
It is dreadful warm weather. Perhaps you have the same, but if so I do pity you. In about twenty minutes, we go to the hall. We are then to have philosophical experiments, by Professor Snell, of Amherst College. He is also giving us a course of lectures on Architecture. They are exceedingly interesting. We are going up the mountain, day after to-morrow, expect to have a fine excursion.
Cousin Stephen Merrill was over from college, to see me a week or two since. He brought his room-mate with him. We had a very pleasant visit. He said he would come over again this term. I engaged a teacher, who showed them through the building. He seemed very much pleased, and cousin regretted that his sister did not come, even though she did receive her acceptance late. He said he hoped in future to have a more intimate acquaintance with us than heretofore. He told me of cousin Mary Ann's ill health, and week before last, I received a letter from cousin Ezra Barber, informing me of the circumstances of her death, and also of aunt Comfort's. Perhaps he has written to you upon the same subject. Aunt Comfort, in making her will, gave $100. to each of her surviving sisters, and the same amount to aunt Merrill's children, but to us, she simply gave some books. I don't know the reason for her making this distinction, unless it was that she thought we did not need it. But I should think that some of the others did not need it any more. But however she has left us some very excellent books.
Wednesday morning, I was called away by the ringing of the bell yesterday, and will now begin where I left off. The books that she left for me were [priced?] at 35 cents. They were the Life of Harriett Newell, and the 2d Volume of Dr. Payson's sermons. I shall value them very highly. It seems that there were $200. of aunt's money, that she intended to have given to benevolent objects, but by mistake it was not mentioned in the will, consequently it goes to her relatives, and we shall have 1/5 of it, making $13.33 each. Ezra sent the receipt for the book, requesting me to entrust them in his care and signed it. I did so, and answered his letter last week. I was very much surprised to hear of Mrs. Adam's death. It seems that she survived but one week after I saw her. Write me the particulars of her death in your next. What was her disease? Was she conscious of her danger? Was she willing to die? Did she feel that she was prepared to exchange this world for one infinitely better? How dreadful the thought of being brought to a dying bed, without any Saviour, upon whom we can trust, on whose bosom we can lean, in whose arms we can pass through the "dark valley of death." How important it is that we should, while in health, prepare for the hour of death. Is Mrs Leavitt in Lowell, now? I am glad to hear that you like [it] so well in Lawrence. Have you made many acquaintances yet?
I was not surprised to hear that you had divulged the secret of my teaching here next year. I did not expect that you would be able to keep it longer than till I got started to come back. But I don't know as it will make any difference. What did Mr. Greese [?] say? Has Mary Abby been to see you?
I have heard a Latin class recite nearly all this term and Miss Whitman wants me to keep it till the close of the term, and I inend to do so. My health is now very good, but I have been somewhat sick since I came back. The Dr. called once or twice a day for a week. I have been taking medicine of him ever since, and am going to begin to-day to take sarsaparilla. I was at first taken with the cholic, afterward the Dr. feared the dysentery. For one day and a half, I could not raise my head from the pillow without fainting. And they were obliged to rub and fan me nearly all the time, to keep me alive. They were very kind to me, both teachers and pupils. Epecially [sic] Lucy Stearns, and Eliza Holmes waited upon me to the full extent of my wants. I hope you will not forget to tender them your sincerest thanks, for the kind care they took of your sick sister. I shall never forget their kindness. All the teachers too were very kind. Miss Whitman gave the Dr. very particular charges to give me the best of his medical skills and not leave me till I was perfectly restored, adding that she had selected me for one of her teachers the coming year. And then gave me many compliments, which the Dr. thought he would not repeat to me. But I am now perfectly well, though Miss Whitman gives me a charge about my studying nearly every day. But I think there is no danger of my studying too hard. We graduate in six weeks from to-morrow. I think your dress and bonnet must be very pretty. Write all the news. Have you been to Lowell? Love to all and a kiss for the baby.
Love to Hannah Smith if she is with you.
Your aff. sister Hannah C. G.