[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]
Mt. Holyoke College.
So. Hadley, Mass.
Oct. 16. 1895.Dear friends;
I was not disappointed in receiving your Monday night's letter, because I was not expecting it. I decided that it was too rainy for you to go to church. George came about half past eight Saturday evening. We were both sorry that Sunday proved such a disagreeable day, because we could take no walks still I enjoyed myself and I think the Dr did. We went to church in the morning together spent the afternoon in the hotel parlor, reading and talking. He took supper with me, and we went to the Y.W.C.A. meeting. He left town at six Monday morning. That morning I got up early and went with some girls to the chestnut trees on Prospect Hill before breakfast; we found chestnuts in plenty.
Yesterday was Mountain Day. It looked as if it would be a pleasant day, but about two o'clock it began to drizzle and kept it up until after we got home. I led a party of six up the path on this side of Mt. Tom - the same path which I took George up on Wednesday. The party were my room-mate, Elizabeth Stowell and her room-mate, Laura Smith, and Edina Johnson and her room-mate Mary Seymour. We took three shoe-boxes and a grape-basket full of lunch, which consisted of bread and some chopped meat which we doctored up with mustard and vinegar, boiled eggs, cake pickles cookies and pears. I think we walked about seven miles in all. The only riding we did was across the ferry, and on our return from Mt. Tom junction to Smiths Ferry by train. I feel as if I had done about all the mountain climbing I care for the present. The cake-walk was postponed until next Tuesday evening, because Mrs Mead thought it would be too hard for the girls.
We picked up about a quart of chestnuts on our way up the mountain, and in the evening we boiled them over Miss Johnson's oil-stove. They were good. I learned something about boiling chestnuts, they are better if you put salt into the water in which you boil them. Try it. Also I like them better to eat a little salt with them. Are the winter pears good now?
We were a rather wet and bedraggled crowd when we reached the college last night, but they had cocoa and hot pea soup for supper which was comforting. This noon, however, we had ice cream for dessert. I think the housekeeper must have overlooked or disregarded the "eternal fitness of things."
I should think you would demand that your Journal should come regularly if you are going to contribute to its pages.
Yes, we pay forty cents a quart for cream here but it is somewhat richer than ours. I should think thirty cents would be a proper price for you to ask for the creamery cream. What is that customer going to do with a quart of cream a week? It is not strawberry time.
Did you go to Southbridge Thursday?
I had a letter from Lucy Booth this week. Olin is at home, Lillian at Mrs. Job's, Miner has gone to Moody's training school at Chicago! Ida is not going to school and has been visiting in Brimfield.
My finances have sunk to ninety cents. I don't know of anything particular I need money for just at present, but I like to keep on hand enough to get home with, so can you send me some next time you write?
There seems to be an epidemic of sprained ankles going through the college. Margaret Lake fell down stairs this noon on her head and sprained one of her ankles. She is a heavy girl and I don't wonder the fall hurt her.
I have just been digging today, for I felt as though I had been having almost too fine a time for a week or so back.
Why don't you visit George? He has a new carriage, which ought to be an attraction. He seemed to have a very pleasant trip to Burlington, and was entertained in fine style.
I thought I saw a snowflake fall a moment ago. Could it have been? Do you dread the winter?
Goodby
SusieI enclose a card from Thursday nights spread. A carnation was thrust through it. [no longer with the letter]