Mount Holyoke College.
So. Hadley, Mass.
Jan. 18. 1898.Dear family:-
Your letter came Mon. evening this week, causing me great dismay at half-past-four when there was no letter. It was a rather amazing letter. I am sorry you did not get the little silver fleur-de-lis pin which I sent you in December so that it would get to you the Sunday which was your birthday.
The letter with the check came Sat. morning when Harvey was here.
You will be as much delighted and as much relieved as I was to know that I have received a gift of $25. which, with the $5.00 you sent ought to see me well through this winter term. It was last week, the very evening after I had written to you about my many expenses this year, that Miss Hazen sent for me and gave me the money which was sent to her by one of the trustees to whom it was given by an old lady who conceals her identity very carefully. I don't know how much there was in all but it was to be given in sums of $25 to good students who seemed to need it. I wrote a little note of thanks which Miss Hazen sent to this trustee to be forwarded by him to this lady.
Wed. evening last, Prof. Winchester of Middletown gave the second lecture of the course, on Burns. Those who heard him said he was very good, but I sat where I could not hear well at all, and it was quite tantalizing to hear the beginning of an interesting sentence but entirely lose the point.
Friday afternoon at half-post four Harvey came, and we went over the grounds and buildings, and in the evening to hear Mrs. Caswell, who used to be a missionary to the Indians, and is now connected with the Amer. Miss. Ass. or the Home one, I can't remember which. After meeting I introduced him to Mrs. Mead, Miss Hazen and a lot more old ladies and girls - more than he could remember, he said. Sat. noon he took dinner at Pearsons. Mr. & Mrs. Patten were also here. He went to Holyoke at three to take the train for Mt. Hermon, and I went with him to buy myself some rubbers.
Sat. night I had a letter from Laura Smith saying that her father died last Tuesday night.
Tomorrow I am going to Springfield to have my picture taken. I shall have it taken in my brown dress, and shall go again in the spring for cap and gown and evening dress pictures. Mary and Gertrude are going tomorrow too.
I am waiting for light upon the subject of Agencies. I hear a good many conflicting opinions about the Fisk Agency. I am at great disadvantage in being so hard to get at in the summer. They like to have applicants where they can get at them at a moment's notice, personally or by
telegraphtelephone. Some girls last year went to Boston and stayed two weeks so as to be on hand. Perhaps it would not be a bad scheme for me to join the N.Y. branch and then if I make Gertrude a visit early in the summer I should be accessible for a little while. It is tremendously provoking to have to join an Agency at all; they seem to be a nuisance to every teacher, but some means of communication between schools and teachers seems necessary. I must get a school or a position of some sort.Dr. Marguerite Sweet gives a lecture on Ruskin tonight. I do not go for three reasons, sig.
1. My twenty five cent pieces are precious, tho' I do feel very millionaire-like just now.
2. I am not so very much interested in Ruskin.
3. I get all I want of Dr. Marguerite Sweet at table.
Speaking of table reminds me that we had oyster stew for supper tonight, which made everybody happy. First time I have had oyster stew for an age. The new matron, Mrs. Rice, is universally liked. She is a very motherly sort of a person.
The sleighing is perfect here; the roads are worn down just a[s] smooth as can be. The minor faculty have gone on a sleighride [sic] tonight. I am pining for one. Even Peter would be most acceptable as requisite to motion. I hope it is as good sleighing at Union as here. All the men in the vicinity are filling their ice-houses. The ice looks very nice, clear and hard.
I enclose one of the Fisk circulars, of which I have two. [no longer with the letter]
I am getting behind in my studies on account of those exams. and Harvey's visit and so on, and so am kept very busy indeed. However, I try to go to walk, and I do not lie awake half the night as I did the last week before vacation. Have an essay to write in Socialism, about the German Socialist Frederick Lassalle. Senior essay due in March. Thusin [?] exam Thursday morning.
Now I must wind up my letter and go to studying.
With much love.
Susie.P.S. Somebody in giving me change gave me a Columbian half-dollar, with Columbus on one side & a ship on the other. I never saw one before & did not know that they were in circulation now. Shall I save it to add to your collection?