Chapel Hill, N.C.
June 9 - '83My dear Mother -
At last it seems possible to sit down & write to you. The week has been so full that every minute has been precious. How delightful it would be if I could make you a little visit this morning & rehearse each event of these past few days. It is so ahrd to think of things to say, when you have no face to look at & no questions to answer.
I am afraid you have been somewhat worried about us, but we are both well, tho' Jennie has quite a severe headache this morning & so I told her I would write if she would lie down. I hope she will get to sleep, we have kept such late hours that it is telling on us all. We intend to be very lazy & read all we can.
Well for the news, for I know you want to hear everything. I believe I wrote last Tuesday morning while the rest were playing croquet. After the game the boys sat & talked awhile then we girls came in and went to work, we finished the two white dresses, tho' at was hard work as the day was extremely warm. I got very much disgusted with mine before it was done & about decided that I wouldn't undertake a while albatross soon again. I was very glad you sent so much lace. I put it around the basque, sleeves, & front of the overskirt. The dress is very handsome I think & I expect to take great comfort in it. Jennie's white also is very pretty & she looks very sweet in it.
Mrs Spencer returned Tuesday evening & gave us a graphic account of the commencement at Peace. Said that Jennie L's paintings were by far the best & that she had done nobly & deserved all the praise she got. J. is a great favorite with every one. She is quite pretty, her expression is so sweet very much like Jennie's. About nine o'clock Mr Alexander came in & wanted to know if we would like to go to the ball room to a hop. We said yes, so he came for Jennie & myself about eleven. Jennie danced one quadrille & I not at all. We came home about half past two. Wednesday morning we
did little & nothing & at noonwent to the Chapel to hear the address delivered by Judge Manning of Louisiana. He spoke principally of politics & the responsibility resting on young men. I didn't enjoy it particularly, but it had the good quality of being short, or rather not long. (if there is any difference) We had no escorts to the Chapel, but Mr McElwee walked home with Susie & Jennie & Dr Venable with me.We expected Aunt Fannie & Mamie on the noon train so delayed dinner for them. Of course the train was late & we most starved before they came. Mamie is not near as fat as she was & I think it an improvement. Aunt Fannie still thinks we look alike & calls us twins. We decided to lie down in the afternoon & not attend the sermon, which was delivered by Dr Hepburn of Davidson College. We hadn't been up stairs long before a note came from Prof. Holmes asking if he might escort me to the Chapel so I went & the rest remained in the land of nod. The sermon was very good & practical. I wore my albatross to the dance & my silk both morning & afternoon. In the evening Mr Kerr brought two young gentlemen down to take Jennie & myself to the speaking by the representatives of the two Societies.
Oh! I have skipped a little. As
J. &Prof H. & I neared home I saw a buggy & saddle horse hitched to the tree & of course wondered who it might be. When I got on the porch I found two young men & a young girl of eighteen or nineteen sitting there. I didn't recognize any of them & after speaking to Mrs Spencer for a few minutes discovered that they were some country cousins. I came in the house & found Susie & Jennie very much disgusted as they evidently meant to spend the night & every room was already taken. We finally were introduced to the folks, Charlie Stanford, Nettie S. & Julius Webb. We accepted the situation & did what we could to make it pleasant for them. Of course we were all anxious for Aunt Selina, Miss June & Jennie to come, & were delighted when we heard the whistle blow. As soon as possible after their arrival we had supper. I went to the second table or rather I ate alone as I wanted to wear my thin white dress & found that it needed some fixing. About half past eight we went over to the speaking Aunt Fannie with Mr Webb, Susie with Mr Kerr (He was going with J.S. but her trunk didn't come so she staid at home) Mamie with Mr McElwee, Jennie with Mr Randall, Nettie with Charlie, Mr Warlick with me. Mr W. is a nephew of Mr Tom Siegle of Charlotte, in business with Mr Tom Seigle Aunt Sarah's husband, so we call him our cousin.We have met a Mr Mebbler [?] whom we also call cousin. Mr M. is Jennie's cousin & Mr W. mine. The speeches were all very good. After the speaking we went to the Halls, then for cream & thence to the ball room to watch the German for a while. Thursday morning we all went to Commencement exercises except Aunt S. Flora Belle & Mrs S. Mr Warlick was my escort & brought a carriage for me. Mr Webb, Nettie & C. Stanford went together - and Aunt Fannie & the girls a little later. The exercises passed off very pleasantly. The Chapel was crowded to overflowing & the campus looked like a camp meeting. I never saw so many vehicles of all descriptions. It reminded me of Arlington on Decoration day.
By the way, I don't believe I told you that Susie Jennie & the children went out to the cemetery last Sunday, said the magnolia tree had several blooms on it. We had quite a heavy rain during the exercises. Thursday & since then have had several showers. Thursday night it was raining off & on all night. After dinner Thursday we were sitting in the parlor talking when a rain came up, we looked out & saw some people in a buggy, or something of the sort, stop at our gate. Charlie S. immediately recognized the
mfolks & went out to meet them. We thought of the saying it never rains but it pours, for here was Mr Snipes, Ettie, Willie, James or Eddie, I have forgotten the child's name, Snipes, a little Strand & a little Atwater. They staid an hour or so. Sent love to you & gave us all urgent invitations to come out to see them all. I remembered the bundle & gave it to Mr S. with your message. (Mrs Charles P. is down stairs so I must stop for a while). The others left about the same time.Thursday night we went to the ball, Jennie L with a Mr McNeal & Mamie, Jennie & myself with Aunt Fannie & Mr McElwee. Mr McNeal was one of the marshalls & gave Jennie L. his regalia. We have teased her considerably about it since. We met Major Bingum [?] at the ball & talked with him awhile. Mamie danced once & the rest of us were merely wall flowers. We left when the ball was half over & got to bed about five o'clock. Yesterday we had breakfast about nine & during the day had quite a number of callers. In the afternoon I took quite a nap. Last night Mr Currie called & just as he was going Mr Alexander came in to see me. We sat up talking till after eleven. The young man seems to be really in love with me. I have not given him the least encouragement & I don't know as I ever shall, in fact I have discouraged him. I told him that his character was not sufficiently developed for me to say whether I could ever care for him or not. He is a very nice young man & seems to be a perfect gentleman, as the expression is, I like him better than any I have met here, perhaps before he has paid me more attention than any other. I suppose his being here so often has kept other students away, but I don't care for I reckon he is among the best. He leaves either to-day or Monday, he had not decided when he left last night.
Aunt Fannie & cousin Mamie left for Fayetteville this morning to be gone a few days.
We were disappointed in cousin
sTom's coming. As we have had no word can't say what the reason may be. We are having a lovely day, one of the "what's so rare" kind. You ask about Margie. I expect a letter from her to-day or Monday. When she last wrote she was well, but said nothing about what she expected to do, much to my disappointment, some folks seem to have the knack of writing unsatisfactory letters.Had a letter from Minnie a day or two ago. They were well & enjoying their visit very much, expect to return home Monday. Am sorry to hear about Col. M- I was so in hopes that he would do better. Every body joins in sending love. Jennie's head is feeling better. Dinner is ready so "Good bye" -
Lovingly
Your daughter
Alice