Feb. 4, 1906
My dear sister Mary:You are very much mistaken if you honestly think I would grudge one moment, which I spent reading your lovely long letter. Both of them came on the same mail, at half past nine Friday morning. I was studying hard on English Literature, for the exam came that afternoon, and my engaged sign was on my door. I heard someone come to the door and first I knew two white envelopes came flying through the transom. I opened the door, and she was laughing. I just had a fine time reading your two letters and Mamma's. I could study all the better. Thank you very much for all your good wishes. They have done me a great deal of good. Well, three of my exams. are over. I feel very much releaved [sic], although I have enjoyed taking every one. The Literature and the Zoology were long but I had studied them so hard that they were not hard. The History was short but rather catchy and I don't know just how Mr. Johnston marks. To-morrow morning I have Chemistry, and Tuesday afternoon Bible. I do not dread the Bible, although I shall study it carefully Monday and Tuesday morning. The Chemistry is the one I dread most, although they say it will be easy. I took a "sit-up" last night and studied hard for it, and I shall study some more to-morrow morning. I have taken a walk before every one of my exams. I think it is a fine thing to get your brain clear and think of something else for a while after you have been "cramming["]?
After my Zoology exam. yesterday noon Fannie Bixler and I took a walk for about an hour. It was a very beautiful day, and I suppose you are just leaving Sunday School as it is five minutes of one. My Bible class did not meet to-day, as it is the custom to omit those classes during exam. week, as the girls need the time to use on their other studies. I mean the time they would spend on the preparation of the lesson during the week, not the time it would meet on Sunday. My Zoology drawing book was handed back the other day and as there were a few corrections on it, I went to see my teacher at her office hour, and she said I had improved very much on my drawings and they looked very well, so I was quite pleased.
My chemistry note book was also corrected. I think that has been pretty good also. We had to get to a certain place in the laboratory work before semesters, and I was very glad to get it all accomplished.
We expect to loose [sic] Mr. Johnston next semester, as I believe he thinks that he will no be able to continue with our class as he is not very well. He has several other classes besides the Sophomore History. We feel very sorry to loose [sic] him, as he is a fine teacher. I like the broad way he looks at History. Otherwise I have just the same hours and continue the same studies as last semester.
The Pittsburg Calendar came last week. I like it very much and thank Mamma for sending it to me. If it weren't for the advertisements, it would make a fine picture.
Since I started this letter I have been to dinner which consisted of mashed potato, gravey [sic], baked lamb benana [sic] salad which is slided benana [sic] on lettuce with dressing, venilla [sic] ice cream with chocolate sauce and little cocoanut [sic] cookies. After dinner Mattie Parkhill and I took a long walk from half past two to quarter past four. We went over "Cold Hill." It was a cold hill indeed as it was very windy and on very high ground. We could see way off on all sides to the mountains. There were some fine farms around too, at least they looked quite good for this time of year.
When I returned I lay down on the couch and was almost asleep, when Mary and Bessie rapped. So they came in and stayed till quarter of six. In course of the conversation I mentioned that you said in your letter that Henry Sherbert was working for a cousin of ours in Lynn. I didn't say anything about Bessie K. and she said she was going to write & tell Annie Fisher, for she is working in Lynn. Then I thought I wasn't sure that he was in Lynn, but I couldn't think of the place, and I asked her very casually if they (Annie & Henry) were good friends now, and if they wrote. Bessie didn't seem to know, so I guess that is broken off, for Annie & Bessie are such chums that I think she would know, if they were very thick. I had been wondering how I could get on the subject without telling all the facts, and I found out just what I wanted to know.
The recital of last Wednesday was very restful after my History exam. The "Berceuse in A flat major" and "Gloria in Excelsis" were especially fine. I think that the pieces didn't appeal to me quite as much as usual. I will send you that and also the programme of the Warner girl's recital. Bessie said that there was quite a flattering account in the last paper. Bessie shows very plainly that she doesn't care for music and her people also, for every time I have asked about the recital, she has said the reader was fine, and when I ask about the music she doesn't know much about it. She speaks of the whistler also as fine. Difference in people isn't there?
I guess I wrote that Bessie is going home to-morrow and stay till Friday.
I haven't been out skating since Tuesday morning It was very poor then for it was all cut up the night before at the carnival, so I didn't stay long. Mattie Parkhill went with me. She is just learning to skat[e]. The men and women come up on the car from Holyoke and skate on our lake, much to our disgust, and just think there have been half a dozen out there to-day. And there is a notice on the trees at the bank saying "For the College girls and their friends only."
Mattie Parkhill had a box from home last week, so she treated me to two oranges, two apples, two popcorn balls, some dates and peanuts.
Bessie is comming [sic] over to go to Vespers with me to-night; and then I am going right to bed and have a good rest in preparation for my Chemistry exam. Sarah Bernhardt played in Northampton in Racine's French play "Phedre" There was quite an account of it in the paper. It said she is 64 and she takes the part of a young girl perfectly. She was greatly applauded by the Smith College girls. They have been studying the play this winter. The seats were very expensive. It said that she held the audiance [sic] so under her control that at the end of the play no one moved to go. It said that was a high tribute from an American audiance. [sic]
I have just returned from Vespers. Mr. Hammond played and after the service he played four pieces, Handel's "Largo", "March of the Magi Kings" by Dubois and "Beim Frinkgelage" by Greig I think. I know he played it at one of his recitals, and I think it was that piece. Those three are great favorites of mine.
Your ever devoted sister
Carrie.
