Mt. Holyoke
Nov. 13, 1904.
Dear precious sister, Mary:What a dismal snowy day this has been! I suppose you wouldn't go to church, if it was as bad as it has been here. I went to church this morning, but Inez stayed at home, as also many others did. It rained when I went and snowed when I came back. The ground is quite white now, and the wind is howling around my windows. I haven't been out to the meeting this evening, for I thought it too bad.
This afternoon I read for a while, then Miss Lucy Jennings came in to call, and Louise Haines came to call on Inez and Bessie Wood, one of the freshmen came in to call on me. She is a very sweet girl, and sits next to me in Math. Miss Hazen also came in and invited me to go up to her room for a little while. All the freshmen were invited and she read to us from a little book, about "ideals." It was very nice. Then she showed us many interesting things, which came from abroad. She was very nice, and it made me think of the nice times we used to have when we went out to call on Mrs. Prescott. I wonder if Mrs. Prescott will ever get us beyond Gibralter? I think it will get pretty cold there if we stay much longer, though perhaps it is warmer there than here now. One of Miss Hazen's pictures which she got from Florence was a picture of angels of bright colors on a gold background and framed with a beautiful gold frame. I think it must have been a very expensive picture. Then she had a picture of St. Mark's cathedral, and it showed the different colors of the marble around the alter. [sic] It was a fine picture. Then she had a little table made of pieces of different kinds of marble from Italy. She had a cone from the cedars of Lebanon and a rosery [sic] of olive wood, and a vase made in the shape of a gondola, which was perfectly beautiful, the glass was so pretty, parts of it were marked so that it looked like lace-insertion on the glass. She showed me a picture of Snell Hall and his sister, she is handsome I think. One of the freshman [sic] is from the same town as Mr. Hall and she knows them well. Her name is Bonny Dean[.] His aunt, who lives in Amherst has invited Marion to come to her home for Thanksgiving[.] I don't know whether she is going to or not. Marion is teaching in the town where Miss Hazen makes her home[.]
Mr. Hall presented a picture to Mead Hall which hangs in the faculty parlor "Swift and Stella" is the subject of the picture. After dinner, or supper I should say for we have dinner at noon on Sunday, Mary and I went up to Alice Thompson's room and stayed about an hour and a half I should think. I had a fine time looking at her "Llamarada", that is the class book. It is interesting to look up the seniors, whom I have seen and find out their names, and read the jokes on them. The one on Alice is "I wonder what accident will happen to her next?" for she is always comming [sic] to grief. She has had her knee with a plaster cast on it all summer for she fell and hurt it so she is still rather stiff.
There has been a little ice on the lake and the girls are all wishing that there would be skating for Thanksgiving[.] It won't make any difference, for I shan't want to spend any of my precious time skating, you may be sure, although I should like a good skate with you, Mary. Perhaps we will have a chance at Christmas.
I did wish you could have heard Mr. Guilmant, and had my fine seat. I could see him all the time. It was very interesting to watch him. He is a fine looking man with white hair and beard. He is so short that the organ stool had to be sawed off for him. I wonder how they will "saw" the legs on again. Some of the music he played was fine and some was way above me, I suppose.
Tuesday evening.
Just a week from tonight I shall be with you all I hope and Helen comming [sic] in a day. I am beginning to count the days you see. The girl from Lowell, May Stone, is planning to go with me. She goes as far as Ayer and then on to Lowell[.] Every time she sees me she speaks about our going home. In fact you hear plans for Thanksgiving on every side. I have the bigest [sic] piece of news to tell you when I get home, but I am just going to arouse your curiosity now.Two of the teachers, the Miss Steavens [sic] have just had a new house built and then have some one for house keeper whom we know very well. The Miss Steavens, my German teacher, asked me to call on that person or persons, for there are two of them, so Mary and I went down to call yesterday afternoon and took the younger one out to walk to-night. Don't bother yourselves sick trying to think who they are for I will tell you all about it when I get home.
Next Friday at nine o'clock, we have a quiz in Trigonometry. Think of me then, do dear. This evening a Mrs. Todd of Amherst gives a lecture on Japan and then there is to be a reception here in this hall. I have to stand at the door and show strangers to the guest room to remove their wraps. I think it is going to be quite swell.
Our table had a spread to-night in honor of Miss Crowther's birthday. After the regular dinner we all went up in one of the senior's rooms (who sits at out table (the senior I mean)[)] and had a fine birthday cake with candles all around the edge, and one big one in the middle. I got a button out of my piece which means poverty, you know. Oh dear! some one else got a cent. Then there was a thimble, & chain and I guess that was all. We also had whipped cream with nuts and candy in it in little punch glasses. At the table we had fancy boxes with saulted [sic] almonds and bon-bons with caps. My cap was very funny of white paper with blue ties. They all laughed at it. Miss Crowther had some lovely pink roses and chrysanthemums, and violets and pinks sent to her from her friends. I guess everybody loves her. We had just an elegent [sic] time! We had drawn up a set of rules on table manners at our table and if we violate one we are to pay a cent and then use the money for a spread. I haven't violated any so far.
I received a nice long letter from Aunt Kate to-day. She can write a fine letter. If I were going to court her, I don't think it would be safe to do it by mail.
Wednesday morning.
I have just received your three nice letters. You may be sure I will look out not to miss the car, Tuesday. We have good time to eat lunch and take the car at 2:00 o'clock for Amherst. The train leaves about quarter past three I think. We have plenty of time any way. I have just been up to the library doing Latin prose, which is no fun. Mary received a long letter from Bessie Bradford which she let me read. She spoke about our class letter. She said Priest had it two or three months. Have you received another "Critic" or isn't it time? I don't go home by the way of Boston and if I had to I think I have money enough[.] I have almost four dollars.Well I must close now with lots of love till we see each other, your loving sister
Carrie.
