[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Friday afternoon No. 99. at the Sem.
My very dear Sister
I know you will be very glad to hear from me soon, and as we are excused from walking this damp afternoon, I very gladly take this opportunity of commencing a letter to you. I have so many things to say to you, I hardly know where to begin, or what to say first. But first, I would ask of your own self, one question, How do you do? And how are all the dear friends at home? Pa and Ma, and George and Johnny? All well I hope, and I am well and happy too. I do not feel as sad as I expected to, on returning and finding so many of my old friends gone, though I would love to see them all very, very much, and think of them very often. Yet I have so many dear, kind friends left still, that I cannot but be happy in seeing them once more. And my time has been so occupied since I came that I have had little leisure for sad reflections. -
Quite a sudden stop, and a long pause here, but don't be discouraged, you shall have a letter soon. By the way I canot write very fast till I finish this cake of gingerbread, there, now I am done, "oh! how proper good it was." Master Johnny I take the liberty to quote some of your sage sayings.
Well! here I am, sungly tucked away in No. 99 Miss Lyon's old bedroom, Neal, you remember it a very cozy little room but "altogether too shady" as Uncle Newton said of Grandma's home. But then, in little more than three weeks, I can change my place of residence you know, so I am quite contented here. Miss Hazen rooms next me, and Miss Lyon beyond, in what we formerly called the wing parlor.
Now you know my whereabouts. Elizabeth is my roommate for the present. I have just peeped into No. 2. Mary's old broken rocking-chair stands there, as demure as ever, with this exception, the room hardly looks natural. I do not know who the occupants are. I have seen many of your old friends Nelie, they enquired after you the first thing after saying "How d'ye do to me."
I suppose you and Ma would like to know how I enjoyed my journey and what I have been busying myself about since I came. Did we not have delightful weather to travel? The first night after leaving home, we spent at DeTume's [?] very pleasantly, the next found us within the walls of the Seminary. The wind and dust seemed to concetrante their rage in one of my poor eyes, and ever since I came, I have ben sorely troubled with two styes upon the same lid, this morning I succeded in opening them, and now I am blessed with a beautiful little bile upon my upper lip. You may imagine I have made quite a fine appearance since my arrival in South Hadley.
My studies at present are Euclid and Logic. Do you not remember how Mary used to shut herself in the closet, to study that old Euclid? I feel quite like a senior I assure you, when poring over its pages.
You must be willing to accept a very miserable letter from me, this time, and withal quite a short one, for I do not feel remarkably in the mood for writing, and moreover have not time. Have you sent Mary her underhandkerchief yet? Do not forget it. I found very much to my grief on unpacking my trunk I had left the cape to my DeCain [?], at home. You will find it in Jane's trunk. Can you not send it to me in a [...], I should be very glad of it if you can.
Have you received any tidings of that silk? I am very anxious to hear from you about it. The retiring bell rings, give my love to all the good folks about home. Aunt Statira [?] & Jane, Mrs Loop, Fanny, Lena, and very much for my own family. Kiss little Johnny for me. Write me a long letter very soon
In great haste
Your sister Hattie.P.S. Miss Whitman is here as good, and kind as ever. She told me to give her love to you, Ma. I presume I shall think of a thousand other things I want to say to you, when I have closed this letter, but nothing of importance occurs to me now. My very dear sister, good-bye. How much I wish I could see you all.