South Hadley, MassDear Carrie:
If you haven't heard from college within the last week you probably think that our prom is all over by this time; but, alas, it has been postponed till May! Up to last Saturday we thought we would have it February 22, but then Miss Woolley with Margaret Palmer and Harriet Boutelle decided to postpone it on account of all the Scarlet Fever around. Amherst has been closed, as I suppose you know, and of course a good many girls who were to have men from there would have had to go without. We have been fortunate enough to have only two cases of Scarlet Fever here, (Susan Reed and Miss Rousmenier [sic] - a new faculty) and if a lot of men came here from all over the country there would be a great deal of danger of their bringing more. At first some of the girls were furious about the change with such short notice; but they soon got over it. Bess Clapperton's man had started from Michigan. He came here but there was no prom for him.
My brother was going to come up for me. I was rather sorry not to be able to see him after I had planned on it so long; but it will be lovely to have him here in the spring.
We had Friday as a holiday just the same and instead of Wednesday we had Thursday this week. I usually have one class on Saturday but was excused on account of having a required lecture to attend last week. That gave me four days together (counting to-day) without any classes. It has been a lovely little vacation.
You met Clara, my room-mate. She has been with me all year until this week. I never knew anyone more agreeable and sweet tempered than she. It has been a great pleasure to live with her so long. In October Miss Greene wanted to send her to another house or on the fourth floor of this. We didn't want to separate and after a good deal of persuasion Miss Greene consented to let her stay. Now Clara has a single room just two doors away. It is not so bad as it might be, but it is awfully lonesome all alone.
You said you wished me luck in my exams. I'm afraid I didn't have it. I don't think I ever handed in such a poor set. I took six altogether.
Last semester I had the finest set of instructors imaginable. But this semester it is quite changed. I have Miss Flint instead of Miss Williams and don't have Miss Smith or Miss Hewes any more. I miss them both terribly. Besides, I have Miss Clara Stevens and I'm scared blue of her every time I go to class.
I think Brigham is the only hall worth living in. It is perfectly fine this year. The girls are all great.
We have a new Junior who came a[t] the beginning of this semester. She is just as dear as she can be. She came all the way from St. Paul.
The night after exams all the Juniors in the house went on a sleigh ride to Old Hadley. We started at about half past four, had dinner at the Dickinson House, left there at about eight and got back at about ten thirty. When we go[t] here we found a lot of hot chocolate and wafers waiting for us that Miss Fairbanks had prepared. It was a mighty cold night and I tell you we were glad for it. We had Miss Hewes as chaperone and she certainly added to the pleasure of the evening.
Did you say you went to see Ben Hur? I have always wanted to see that. In the fall six of us Juniors went to Holyoke to see Macbeth. It was grand. We had Miss Hewes along then too.
At Thanksgiving time I had Celia Fischer, the girl I was always talking about, up from New York. She stayed here five days & we had some fine times together.
I wish I had more time to tell you more, but I am trying to catch up in my correspondence this afternoon & can't make any letter very long.
How are you feeling now? I hope that you are getting much better. Remember me to your aunt and sister.
Lovingly
Your friend
Mattie.Feb 24, 1907.