Monson Aug 28th 57My dear friend
It is with very much pleasure that I now seat myself, for the purpose of writing you a short note although I do not consider it my duty to write first, without arguing the subject at all I now fulfill the promise that I made you the day you left my home, that I would write you very soon, and you will observe that I am doing it, seeing that I arrived here early last Tuesday. I regret having not seen you more & being favored with a more extensive acquaintance with you, but really, Dora I do feel quite a little acquainted with you having "sister" Annie speak of you so very much. I enjoyed your visit at our house very much indeed, hope that you will renew it some day. Dora I should be very happy to open an epistolary correspondence with you if it would be pleasant to you. I think it would be both pleasant & profitable, I speak only for myself however. I do enjoy receiving letters so much. What could we do without letters? They are indeed sweet tokens of affection; when friends are separated hundred & thousands of miles distant from each other, with the broad deep motionless sea ever rolling between them, then some message from the absent ones, how it will cheer the drooping, disponding [sic] heart, & make it look up for joy & gladness, & say verily there are yet some hearts that do feel & sympathetic with me in these far distant lands. Thanks be to pen, ink, & paper that we can thus communicate our thoughts to each other, & that there is a way by which, we can send our messages of love wherever we please, however far it may be.
Dora dear, very many here have been the times that I have wished that I might see you, & have a social conversation, only just think of it here I am in Monson an entire stranger, every one a stranger to me, & I am a stranger to everyone. But I have one of the best of boarding places, it is at the Rev Y. G. Colton's. They are very fine people indeed, Mrs Colton is an exceedingly fine woman, I enjoy her society very much. She is a very amiable kind, noble lady, one canoot help loving her, for her kindness if nothing more. My room mate is a lady from Dana, the Rev Keep's daughter. Dora Keep she has been at the Sem - one year[.] I think she told me that she was acquainted with you, how do you like her, she appears like a very good girl, think that I shall like her much, she has only been here two days, have not seen very much of her. Have you heard from Annie recently? Suppose Thomas goes to Barre next week, which of the girls go with him? But I must stop writing for a short time as it is time to go to recitation & when I return I will tell you about Mr Beckwith as you wished me to write so I will, good bye until I return[.]
Sabbath Eve It has indeed been a glorious day the Sun has shone so brightly &, has been so mild. I have enjoyed this sabbath very much it has been a delightful season to me, have attended three services to day & I feel quite fatigued as I am not accustomed to do quite as much.
Mon. eve I now make another attempt to complete this letter trust I shall succeed this time after the third attempt. I was to tell about Mr Beckwith[.] He called every other day after you left until he left & that was 1 week ago last Saturday & then went to West Hampton, is engaged in the book agency, selling there Colton's atlases. Mamps [sic] of the entire world, & thus I am released from him one while at least but not not entirely, he said when he arrived at Andover & was well settled that he would visit me just think of it will you! I don't know what I shall do I am sure but dont say a word for any thing will you Dora?
Mr Bridgman called here last evening you are acquainted with him are not you? I should like to write more but I will defer untill [sic] next time after I recive [sic] your letter, so Good Bye Dora dear, as ever your sister
Clara
think you Annie's "sister" if so I shall claim you for mine