My dear Nell;-Ever since I reached home I have been flattering my self on being so contented and happy and on escaping hte peaking and pining I expected to undergo. But to-day I discovered it was only on the surface and existed because my mind had been so completely taken up with other things that no space had been left for melancholy or repining. I started a letter to Nora Switzer Cass asking after the welfare of her small baby which came last week then started in upon a detailed account of Mountain Day but before I had written a paragraph I became aware of the same old choking sensation and I all but had that good cry that I have been postponing so long.
Now how goes it with you? I suppose the wedding has kept you from lamenting. Do tell me all about it.
I told the Robin which I started at Abbie's request about our journey home, so I'll skip over that.
We are very busy. Auntie left for Elmira soon after we came and we have only one girl who is not at all competent and about thirty boarders to do for hence the small amount of time for homesickness. I am hoping that we may get track of another girl for Mamma never can stand it to work all Summer this way and I'm too lazy to want to.
Then last week was Commencement and being still loyal to G.H.S. I went to almost everything, ending with the Alumni banquet which was a big fake for the man promised it for seven and never served it till ten! Imagine two hundred famishing people for 'most people here have supper at six so even at seven were very hungry strolling by the Lake & upon verandahs for three mortal hours. I was with a lot of the old crowd (among them James Hall) and so had no end of fun. Then the thing was wretchedly served and finally it got so late that people ran away without waiting for the toasts. We had great fun over the new officers for I was elected President and kept promising all sorts of elegant things for next year.
Henry is home, too, and that always takes lots of time. We have a Coney Island sort of a place on the Lake where we go frequently to see the sights. Last night a crowd of College people went up there to a five cent theatre but one of the boys is going to be a minister and he was so shocked that we soon withdrew to the merry-go-round.
Don't tell yet for I don't know, but Sara Budd is to teach in the Washington High School next year so I expect to have her place. Her decision not to return was sudden & Mr. Rogers is away so I don't know yet whether I am to be congratulated or not, but of course have good reason to expect the position. Six hundred a year at home isn't so bad. how about your place in a Pennsylvania College?
I have heard from Abbie who wrote too soon after going home to have much to say and from Elizabeth who was suffering acutely because they had locked her crutches up, but seemed pretty well otherwise, at any rate better than I feared she would be after everything was over. Tell me what news you have, and do write to me soon, for truly I can't stand this living together for four years and then dropping out of each other's life.
Your loving Fish
July 1, 1896
20 West 4th St.
Jamestown, N. Y.
Please remember me to all the Middleborough people I met, especially Doc and your aunt. By-the-way did you know that Mamma quite lost her heart to you?