Stamford, Monday morning, Sept. 6th, '69.
Dear Julia:
I have got up, but haven't yet been down, and as I have in my room no writing materials except these, the result of which you see, why, I'm using what I have. [oversized lined paper and pencil] Quod habes, isto uti decet. [translation of Latin: that which you have, make use of it] I think I've got into a very pleasant place - indeed, a jolly place.
Patty will tell you some about my visit at Amherst & Hadley, and if you go to Amherst, you may hear some more from Doodle, so I won't dwell on that, any more than I dwelt there. I had a very pleasant time there and at Greenfield too, where I saw your old friend Garry.
Saturday morning at 10 1/2 A.M., I left Amherst reluctantly but boldly, & set my face Stamford way. A young lady of Belchertown, an acquaintance of Lige Donald's, was so kind as to be my company as far as Palmer, where I found even more agreeable company in the persons of Dr. Adams of my class, & Hill, formerly of the same. Dr.'s gone to Cummington, away out in the woods beyond N. Hampton. Then, from Springfield where my eyes were refreshed by the bright vision of Miss Ward, and when I parted from the boys, I rode as far as Meriden with a Mr. L'Hommedieu (soi-disant [translation of French: supposedly] lommydu); at M. I saw Mather of '68 & spoke with him. He teaches there. I came the rest of the way alone, only from New Haven I rode with an agreeable and intelligent gentleman whose immediate progenitors were probably natives of Senegambia.
At Stamford Depot I found Billy Betts waiting for me, and soon afterward we discovered Mr. Jones, of Lafayette Coll., class of '69, who is my colleague.
Billy above-mentioned is Jame's [sic] second son, & is in Yale, as is also his next younger brother Alsop. There are two other boys at home, and one of them wants to go to college next year. Mr. B. probably has a contract for supplying the college. There are also three daughters whom another would perhaps have mentioned first; there names are Molly, Hattie, and Lottie, though as yet I don't call them so. The two oldest have been at So. Hadley, and they are all very pleasant indeed, and smart. I am already established on a cousinly footing, which is very comfortable and convenient. They live in a very good style. Miss Hattie told me Saturday afternoon, with pleasure both to herself and to me, that she had just put up 92 jars of peaches. There were two other beautiful young ladies visiting her at that time, and we played croquet, and probably enjoyed ourselves. I haven't seen any school as yet; I've only been making a very pleasant visit. The boys will come to-day, and work will begin tomorrow.
Yesterday I dined at Harry Humphrey's. They have a beautiful place, and live in much style; more than was comfortable to me, though they fear it easily as a wise man should.
When you read this you will be at So. Hadley.
Please remember me kindly to any inquiring friends.
Besides a great deal of affection for the Sem. girls in general, enclosed is much love for Patty, Sue Carter, Mary Page, & Alla my sister.
Yours truly,
Wm A. Keese.