[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]My room. No. 47. Mt. Hol. Sem. Monday evening.
Dear sister Nelie,
I gladly embrace my first opportunity of communicating to you my safe arrival in So. Hadley. I have had it in my heart to write you before, but found myself destitute of materials for the purpose, being minus the ink, and paper. To day I very thoughtfully furnished myself with a supply of both, and this evening have seated myself to put them in requisition.
I suppose you would be interested to know how my classification stands, after my adventurous project of staying at home until the last minute. Well! it is not loo[...]red in the least, was I not fortunate? I had a most delightful journey. We had a very pleasant ride to Sheffield, only Pa's mind was somewhat distracted with doubts of our seasonable arrival, but we were there half an hour before the regular time, and had the ecstatic felicity of waiting two hours. But even this was not very tedious as we found very agreeable companions at the Depot. Mr & Mrs. Fisk were on their way to Saratoga, and Miss Worden on her way home. We became quite acquainted before we left her at Southbridge, said "how do you do," to Mr Dwight who was at the depot for Miss Worden, and in a moment more had the pleasure of saluting one of our schoolmates. Miss Mary Stom, and her father, who is a resident of Danbury, and well acquainted with Mrs Roger Averill. Her father accompanied us as far as the State Line, saw us safely on board the cars, and then bade us goodbye.
On the cars I met another of my friends, this time a classmate, Phi Green. We staid that night in Springfield not reaching there until nearly eleven. The next morning upon inquiry we found there was the barest possibility, of our reaching So. Hadley in season, and so hired a carriage, rather than trust to chance. And it was well we did, for one of the young ladies who staid in Springfield that nght, and came up on the cars the next morning, did not reach here until after devotions, a fine opportunity it would have been, to lower my classification. The expense was no more than it would have been to have staid in Springfield to breakfast. Now I must study. Bye & bye I will write you some more.
Thursday afternoon, and this letter is still unfinished. Why Nealie, you, and all the good folks at home, will have the blues about me, wont you? Don't be so excessively alarmed. I am alive, well, and happy. And I do most heartily "hope you are enjoying the same blessings." What are you doing now? In the midst of housecleaning? I fancy you are, for methinks you cannot have finished yet. Is Caroline with you now? Have you and Ma, your dresses made? How many questions I could ask, if I was with you.
Last night I received a letter from Lottie Franklin. I imagine she likes her new home pretty well. She said Fanny Chapin attended Miss Kellogg's school. I have not much in the way of news to tell you Nealie, in truth I feel rather dull just this minute. A little variety, in the way of teazing you, or a good frolic with little Johnnie, would no doubt be of service in enlivening my spirits. How often I've thought of the little fellow since I left home. There's hardly an hour but some of his pretty sayings come to my mind. He must love his sister Hattie, with accellerated, and ever accellerating power, far more than his little tongue can tell. Give him a sweet kiss for me Nealie.
Oh! how much I have thought of you all this one week that I have been here. Only eleven weeks more, Nealie dear, and I shall come home to stay, I hope. Will we not have happy times. I anticipate a deal of pleasure. Nealie you must learn to play. Do if possible take lessons this summer. I am feeling a wee bit sad tonight, I hardly know why, perhaps it is the stealing on, of this still, calm twilight, and I could not help thinking a minute ago, how I would love to hear some deep, heart thrilling music. And then I wish I knew how to play. Nealie you must learn, there is no alternative, with Pa's consent, and I know he must desire it, he is so passionately fond of music himself. A piano, how pleasant it would make our home. It is one of my brightest dreams at present.
And now I have come to the end of my sheet, Nealie dear, you must answer it very soon, and tell me all your thoughts. Give my love to dear Ma & Pa & George & John.
Sister Hattie
Has Ma's girl come? How do you like her? Mary will be here in two weeks. Nealie Reed is very sick indeed it is doubtful whether she is living