306 West Grand St.
Elizabeth, N.J.
Feb. 6 - 1882.My dear Mother -
I wrote Jennie last week not to expect a letter before Wednesday, so I suppose you will not be worried about me. We were all very sorry to hear of Mr Stansbury's death. That family seem
sto have a great deal of trouble. I am sorry for Mrs S- her life before her marriage was such a hard one.I wish I could see you & just talk as fast as I could and if I should keep it up till midnight I don't believe I would be able to tell you every bit that I want to. I wrote Jennie Thursday that we were going out coasting - we went and had just a lovely time. The moon was at its full, the coasting good and the air delightful, not a bit cold - we enjoyed it ever so much and if the snow lasts will probably go again. Friday evening a young gentleman called on I & M - he asked for the ladies and as I was busy fixing my muff, I did not go in till quite late. Mrs Muldaur was fixing George some mittens, and seeing me in a muss concerning my work very kindly offered to exchange works, which I gladly did. The muff was a blessing to me all the time I was in N.Y.
We had breakfast in good time Saturday morning and succeeded in catching the 8.24 train. Mr Irwin, the gentleman who called the evening before was going over to N.Y. to procure tickets for the matinee so went with us. I left I & M, & Mr. I at the 14th street station of the 6th Ave. "L" road, and walked over to 10th Street to Ev's. She was out but came in a few minutes. She had been out of the city & had just returned that morning and found my postal awaiting her. She had promised to see a friend somewhere or other at twelve o'clock, and also had an engagement in the afternoon, the last I persuaded her to break. I asked Ev. if she had seen "Patience" and if not, if she didn't want to. She said she would like to, but - - - I told her i
ft would be just the thing for her, and that I would go for the tickets, go up to Mrs S's for lunch and meet her at 2 P.M. at the "Standard", and off I started. After I had bought the tickets, I worried my brain as to the best way of getting to 950 Lex. Ave.anIt began snowing. I thought the best way would be to walk over to 3rd Ave. and take the elevated. I started in that direction, but it snowed so fast that I concluded to take a Madison Ave. car.In reaching Mrs S's I found that Mrs M
acCall had been having the nose bleed since breakfast time, and that they had sent for the Dr. He came and when I left about half past one had succeeded in stopping the flow. Of course Mrs S- was very worried about her mother and I saw her but a ver few minutes. The rest were well - Ella seemed glad to see me - and so did Mrs S. As it was still storming I borrowed an umbrella from Ella.I met Ev at the theatre, after several hindrances about ten minutes past two. We enjoyed the opera ever so much. The airs are quite pretty and the whole thing very funny indeed. We managed to get back to Ev's boarding house after wading in the snow and waiting on the corner for a stage. We staid in the parlor getting warm & dry till dinner was over and then went up to Ev's room and talked and enjoyed each others company till bed time. The next morning we had breakfast about half past eight, and then considered the weighty question where we should go to church. I said that I had never heard Beecher, and proposed that we go over to Brooklyn. As it was snowing only a very little and as the sun came out soon after, we started off. I enjoyed the service ever so much. The singing was grand and the sermon, though an hour long was very good indeed. Mr B- speaks very deliberately and seems to hold his audience spell bound.
We had a good view of the suspension bridge while crossing the ferry. It is certainly an immense affair. We had dinner soon after getting home, and then went up to Ev's room and stayed till supper time. Ev had a letter to write, and I amused my self reading the "class letters" of her Class and eating candy, which we went out and bought the night before. We had noticed in the paper that the Oratorio of Rebekah was to be given at St. Johns Church, so we went there in the evening. It all seemed very strange to me. The whole service was intoned and only male voices sang the Oratorio. The Church is a Mission church of Trinity and is very "high". I left this morning in time to take eight.10 o'clock train from Jersey City, and reached here a minute or two before the bell rung for sch. Ida & Minnie returned on a later train.
Did I write you that Ev. is thinking of going to S. Africa to teach
inkindergarten in one of the white schools there. She has not decided positively, but feels as though the probabilities are on the affirmative side. If she goes she will sail next April. Her expenses over are paid, and she will receive atsalary of £100. beside boadin, [sic] washing etc. Pretty good pay. She is very enthusiastic over the system and is anxious to teach it though I don't think she particularly fancies S. A. [Although Evelyn Metcalf's biographical sketch does not include teaching in South Africa, further research reveals that she did indeed teach in South Africa, at the first kindergarten in Stellenbosch.]I & M. had a delightful visit with Mamie Pray. Mr. Knapp took first one and then the other out slighing [sic] to-night. Tell Jennie we had a very pleasant time indeed at Mrs Knapp's. We expected to call on her this week but she is out of town for a little while. Please dont [sic] forget to send the satin some time soon. This is the longest document I have written for weeks. Tell Jennie I don't know how long Mame is to be in Washington. Had a letter from Margie to day. She has been suffering a great deal with neuralgia lately We are all well, our arms no longer trouble us.
With lots of love to each one.
Your loving daughter
Alice