[No salutation, but written to Nellie Swift]Friday Morn.
It might be apropos to begin by apologizing for this stationery which you may recognize as coming from my History notebook, but then you know my failings - how I always get completely out of stationery before I am aware of it. I meditated writing to Abby and some of the other people but when I discovered the dearth of stationery I betook myself to The Family letters because I thought you wouldn't mind such a trifle as the paper on which I scrawl my hieroglyphics.
I was glad my dear to receive your interesting letter. It came with letters from Elizabeth and Abbie, so it seemed quite like having a family chat.
Your sentence about Baccalaureate Sunday brought to my mind's eye the wild excitement of last year - wasn't it awful? But I suppose this year you will all have a nice quiet time at West Hall. I should like to drop in with you, and I do wish I could be at College to-day to help you pack. It is such hot, hard work - it ruined both your tempers last year, but I fear that doing it alone may injure more than your temper. And the idea of lugging things clear down to the ironing-room! I am glad we each have a trunk there and then there is my telescope, you know. Well, next June I'll excuse you from packing; you may play the lady of leisure and I'll be maid.
Isn't it delightful to have faculty approve of The Family so highly. I hope some congenial soul will have Miss Hartley's room. I hear that Woodbury & Mildrum are to be neighbors of our next year. I like them first rate.
Edith wrote me a vivid description of the lark she, you and Mollie had the day of the Freshman Lawn Fête. I judge you were very hilarious. Do you know I am getting to be a regular old frump? I break it gently to you now, so if I am gray-headed and decrepit in September it won't be too much of a shock to you. Listen to this tale. I studied Greek almost all day Monday, an Alumni meeting (did I tell you that I was on the Board of Directors?) and discussed arrangements for the annual re-union for two hours. Then Lena & I took a car for Celoron to meet Mamma & the boys. It is a very pretty picnic-ground at the foot of the Lake. It was beautiful but I didn't enjoy it half as much as I usually do an outing on the Lake. Lena & I soon took a car back to town for we were going to stay all night with Sue to get up early in the morning to see Forepaugh's circus unload - a performance we always indulge in and usually it is more fun than a goat. We made lemonade and I thought of that we made the last afternoon last June when we were all uglier than sixteen cats. Then we lounged out on the veranda the moonlight was delicious but I was in that state when I could not sit quiet and could not twist myself into a comfortable position. We went to bed a little after eleven - Lena wanted to talk but I was too tired. We had planned to get up about five and it was six then. We dressed as hurriedly as I do at College; ate two or three strawberries drank a little coffee and were off. There were the usual animals and outlandish people, but for the first time I found no fun in it all. The girls had to leave soon after eight to get to their schools, so I left too, after making an agreement to meet at Lena's to see the parade. When I got home I found Mamma making preparations to sweep the whole house. It was nearly two before the work was all out of the way. I went up to change my dress, but I was so tired and my head ached so hard and the bed looked so white and cool that I felt impelled to fling myself upon it for "just a minute" and - will you believe it? I scarcely could myself - I straightaway fell asleep and slept all the afternoon! And the worst of it all was that when I woke up I could scarcely pull myself together to dress & go down to supper. Now, did you ever hear anything so like a lazy, old grandmother? I felt decidedly ashamed of it all and don't mean to "let it occur again."
Henry is home and as usual we are all his admiring slaves. He stood six in class - only 40 marks behind the honor-man and his diploma reads "graduated with credit." He has some wonderful new uniforms and now he wears a epaulettes and a sword - he's a wonderful sight, I assure you. He is stationed on the North Atlantic squadron and must report - sad to say - at Norfolk Va. June 25. He expects to be cruising around the Atlantic coast for several months and if the Atlanta is at either Boston or New York for any time at all he will ask for a furlough and descend on South Hadley for a day or so. His room-mate & Miss Slater's "boy Rob" are on the same vessel so all three may come together. Wouldn't it be fun if those three midshipmen should come to College in all the glory of their uniforms? Only the scamps probably would insist on wear-[ing] ordinary "cits" clothing.
Well, I have an engagement with the dentist, so I must tear myself away. Write me just as soon as you get home a long account of the Commencement festivities and I will remain
Your Obliged Lucy Fish.