A Letter Written on May 23, 1883

Chapel Hill, N.C.
May 23 - '83

My dear Mother,

I got up a little earlier than usual for the express purpose of writing to you. It is not very early either for it is most half past seven, but then we have not had breakfast & it always seems early till then.

Susie is taking time by the forelock & is down stairs running the machine. As commencement draws near the work seems to grow instead of decrease. My blue basque is done & Jennie has completed an under body. The basque looks very pretty & if it will ever get any warmer I shall take pleasure in wearing it. I have not looked at the thermometer, but it has been cold enough for fires. Sunday evening we sat out on the veranda & enjoyed the moonshine, but last night we sat in the parlor round an open fire & were not the least too warm. I have on my flannel dress & Jennie put on her winter flannels as she felt cold.

Monday afternoon we went out calling. Mrs Hogan, Mrs Battle, Mrs C. Phillips & the Misses Henlen. Mrs H. was out but we saw Miss Margaret Miller whom we like better. Mrs B was very sweet & took us out into her garden & presented us each with four or five roses. She has quite a number of choice roses & other flowers besides. Her youngest, (Willie) was out playing with a half dozen of little rabbits, about three weeks old. They looked very pretty running over the grass. Dr. P. was very much tickled because when we reached his house Mrs P. was out. She came in about two minutes & he remarked in his funny way "I knew what would bring you". Just before Mrs P. came, a student passed whom we knew. Dr P. said "Ah! you can't have any thing like this." That morning he had taken a fifteen mile drive, which is something very unusual for him. At Mrs Henlen's we learned that Mrs Winston was going to call on us as she had heard one of us was from Mt. Holyoke.

Aunt Selina wrote you Monday night , we tried to make her tell what she had written, but she couldn't be persuaded. Monday night & Tuesday night we had no company at all, the students are very busy with their examinations. I suppose Mr Alexander will be here to-night. He is one of my admirers & if his lips speak the truth cares much more for me than I ever can care for him.

I got out my albatross yesterday & tried the basque on, it is ever so much too large for me. Have begun the buttonholes & expect to finish them to-day & then shall tried try to make it fit a little better. I sent to Sterne for samples of lace for the dress, but have had no answer. If I don't hear soon shall want you to get it for me. I have no mitts nice enough to wear with the dress so shall have to have some new ones. Jennie got some a very nice pair at Baum's for $1.00. Nell can get them for me cream colored. Jennie wants Nell to get her some light blue ribbon 2 in. wide wants 3 yds. Breakfast is over & we girls are in the sewing room, the room off the dining room, sitting close to an open fire, Jennie reading, Susie sewing & I writing. Yesterday Mrs. Currie called. In the afternoon we three girls had a game of croquet & then took a walk as it was most too cold to play any longer.

There has been a change in the mail & we now have two trains a day. I thought at first that I would write last night but knowing that you wouldn't get it any sooner, I concluded to wait till this morning & spent last evening reading Daniel Deronda.

By the way the name Daniel reminds me. Yesterday while we were all sitting sewing some one opened the door. I looked up & saw a man whom I did not know. Aunt Selina turned & said "why Mr Thompson" & then we were introduced to the immortal Daniel. He was dressed in a suit of cotton clothes, the color of the mud out at Rock Spring, according to Susie, & died dyed in copper as according to Aunt Selina. He was on his way to Raleigh with flour. I don't think I should be proud to own any relationship with him. His hat was old & shabby enough, & altogether not a very prepossing [sic] object, said that a recent rain had almost washed the mill away. We asked if the mill was working, he said no. We all have invitation to Peace commencement, but I reckon only Aunt Selina & Mrs Spencer will go.

All send love. Tell Mamie & Mattie we will write to them soon. Love to each one from

Your loving daughter,
Alice.