Chapel Hill, N.C.
Aug 21 - '82My dear Mother -
I did not expect to write until to-morrow, as Aunt Selina said she was going to write & thank you for the package that came yesterday, but she hadn't time. I believe Jennie & Susie have both written this week, so of course you have had no cause for worry on our account.
Everything goes on about as usual & so through our time is fully occupied when we sit down to write there seems very little to tell. We go up to the Normal every morning & stay as long as we choose. In the afternoon we try to get a nap & read, a little, in the evening there is generally something at the College & we turn out in full force. We have had several very interesting lectures by Prof. Marshals, the one Wed. night on the Yellowstone Park was particularly interesting. Thursday evening they had a teachers experience meeting which we attended. The question for debate was whipping in Public Schs, & the views expressed amused us considerably. Thursday we were very much surprised & grieved to hear a very bad report about Prof. Newell the superintendent of the Normal Sch. It was said that he with several others had been drunk the night before & had made quite a racket in the campus, consequently Prof. N. was dismissed & left yesterday for home. The excuse for his leaving given to the Sch. was that his wife was sick, a very lame excuse but I suppose better than none. I suppose the Sch. will get along as well without him, but it seems too bad that a man in such a position would be guilty of such demeanor.
How are the Moores getting on & what are they doing? I have not heard from them at all since Col. lost his place.
Cousin Gaston Stanford came down yesterday about noon & is still here. He said all his folks were well I believe. Aunt S. said something about his marrying again, but I guess she will tell you all about it when she writes. It seems to me that there is more joking & nonsense about beaux etc. here than I ever heard or dreamed of before.
Another sad thing happened yesterday. Aunt Bethlehem died very suddenly. Some one was visiting her & she got up an extra dinner for them. She ate heartily & soon was taken with vomiting. Some one told her she had better lie down, she did so & pretty soon she rolled out of the bed & died in about five minutes. Old uncle Jesse seems desolate enough. Only a day or two ago he told us that Bethlehem was going to fix something nice for us before we left. It seems real sad.
Aunt Fannie sent Aunt S. an ice cream freezer a few days ago & yesterday we had the first fruits so to speak. It was very good. Jennie & I bought a quart of huckleberries this morning, the first we have had.
Cousin Gaston spoke of our coming out to his place & said every one was busy now & the the [sic] best time would be the latter part of July. We have made no plans about our other visits as we have been waiting for you to suggest & direct. What are your plans for yourself, are you still anxious to get to the sea shore? Aunt S. says we mustn't think of leaving here before the first of August & wants Jennie to come back & spend the fall. Aunt Fannie wants us to stay a week or two with her, & Mamie Sherwood says we must make them a good visit. Laura is at home now I believe & will probably stay some weeks.
We are having a lovely day just such a one as makes me long for the quiet & beauty of the woods, & be as lazy as possible.
Had a letter from Margie a few days ago, she was well & very happy. Mr M. made her a visit about ten days ago & I suppose every thing is lovely. I was in hope that she would say something about the impression he made on her mother & father, but she was mute. Nettie has gone home & she is quite lone
lysome without. She expects to visit some of her relatives this summer, but isn't looking forward to an especially good time.The other day I took my new lawn down to Mrs Newton's. She wasn't very well & so will not be able to work on it till next week, but as I am in no special hurry I dont [sic] care & then I have no money to pay her so am rather glad than otherwise. I want to finish my corset cover to-day, it has been lying round all the week I believe & I am tired of seeing it. The time goes so fast that it seems impossible to get any sewing done. I wonder now how we ever managed to do so much during the first few weeks.
We hear that Mr Sam Phillips family are expected next wk. Aunt Selina has asked Nora & Lizzie to come here, but we haven't heard whether they are coming or not. I don't think she is strong enough to have such a large family, but she says the money will help her so much. In case the girls come Jennie & I will move in with Mamie. The only difficulty will be the lack of space for our clothes. Every inch seems filled already & how we shall be able to compress things into such limited quarters is a mystery yet unsolved. Are the boys planning for any trip this summer? I expect a letter to day & shall be disappointed if none comes. All well.
Write as usual. Love to all from each one.
Your Aff. daughter
Alice.