[Paragraphs added for easier reading. Harriet did not use periods to end her sentences, but she did leave little gaps where she intended them, so I added periods here where the gaps were.]South Hadley Oct 10th 1843
Dear Mother
Our week will have elapsed before this reaches you since we parted and a long long week it has been to me not that I am homesick for I am delighted with the school have finished my examinations and have commenced one of my Junior studies but every thing seems so strange so different from home[.] I have made but few acquaintences [sic] all of whom I think very worthy girls[.] I have become quite familiar with Miss Comstock a young lady from Kent - I presume you recollect having seen her at Mr Chapins with Henrietta Dutcher one or two years ago[.] Contrary to your expectations Fanny Child has arrived in company with Miss Sands but is rather homesick and thinks it uncertain whether she remains or not[.] Homesick I must find a substitute for that word for Miss Lyon thinks that no refined or cultivated young lady will use it[.]
And now I must tell you about the school its regulations &c[.] We rise at 5 and strange as it may seem I have not been tardy yet[.] I believe I have broken but one of the rules or plans as they call them and that was speaking loud in the domestic hall. we breakfast at 6 done at 1/4 past 12 and take tea or rather cold water at 6[.] I do not complain in the least of our food[.] It is plain to be sure but it is wholesome[.] As Julia said we always have good bread & butter meat twice a day and either pudding or pie for dinner cake for supper generally always crackers[.] I think I never eat bitter pumpkin pie than since I have been here and I begin to think cold water preferable to tea or coffee[.] I think myself quite honored in sitting at Miss Lyon's table where we see the most distinguished visitors and are often much amused and instructed by their conversation[.]
As for my domestic work I cannot tell you much about it yet as we are not fully organized[.] The school is so large that we cannot all be furnished with domestic work at first, so I have attended sewing [?] societies as a substitute have learned how to make potatoe [sic] bags &c[.] Charlotte is taking lessons in kneading bread[.] I do not expect to have any regular work assigned to me as I have no great choice in it but shall do whatever comes handy[.]
The weather since I have been here has been delightful excepting on the Sabbath when we had one of the hardest rains I ever knew[.] I have heard some of the teachers remark that in the six years since this institution has been founded a more severe rain has not been known[.]
I have been so much occupied in my examinations that I have had but little time to survey the beauties of South Hadley which are so highly extolled but at times a feeling of loneliness I must not call it homesickness has come over me and I have thought Chapin Ville far preferable to it[.] In my next letter I hope I shall be able to give you a more minute discription of the place tell you how I like it &c[.]
Our recreation day comes on Friday this week when we shall do our washing [and] clean our rooms[.] I do not mean to sweep and dust them but wash our floors if it is necessary and put them in perfect order to be visited by one of the teachers twice a week which I must tell you is one of the regulations of the school[.] I suppose after this week our recreation day will come on Wednesday[.]
Give my best love to Pa and tell him that I have spent 57 cts of the money he gave me to buy Worcesters Ancient Atlas which I think will be very useful in studying Ancient History and I have gone so far as to think it may be of service to Cornelia if she should enter this school[.]
Oh the little Fawn [?] how many times I have thought of her during the week that we have been seperated [sic] how often have I wished to see her and all the rest of you[,] but my wishes have been answered only by still lonlier [sic] feeling. As you told me I have no Mother to whom I can go in my moments of loneliness none here I can imagine how dear she is to me but do not think from what I say that I am homesick or do not like the school[.] No I am delighted with it[.] I think it an excellent institution and hope I may make such improvement that when I return you nor I will either regret that I have spent a year in this place.
Write to me very soon and tell me every thing that has happened since I left[.] I shall want to hear particularly about the invalid how the adorable Bachelor gets along &c[.] Please tell the invalid if he has returned that I should be remarkably happy to receive those papers which he promised to send[.] My best love to you all and numberless kisses to George & Cornelia for me[.] Tell them that I think of them very often and never knew what it was to be seperated [sic] from them before[.] I should like to know very much whether Louisa has left you or not[.] Give my love to her if she has not and tell her I should be very glad of some instruction in the washing department next Tuesday[.]
I hope you will be able to read this scrawl but feel rather doubtful about it[.] What you cannot read you must guess which I think will be a good part of it but never mind[.] I will try to write better another time when I am not so much hurried[.] I have much more to say to you but not a moment more to write[.] Answer this as soon as possible and believe me your ever affectionate daughter H. L.