217 Lake View Avenue
Jamestown, N.Y.
Thursday, December 21, '93.My Dear Nell;-
I don't know what sort of a letter this will be since I am writing while the whole family are talking to me, - all on different topics. It has just come over me how funny it seems to be so many hundred miles from you and writing to you while but three evening ago we were peacefully occupying one and the same little room. Verily, "this is a funny world." I thought of you and the other girls all the while I was juggling with chlorides, sulphides & carbonates Tuesday afternoon and when I came back to 24 C. the room looked so forlorn that I realized as never before how it must have struck you last June. N'importe! The "washer-ladies" are going to wash it good while we are away.
Do you know anything about the dainty little box I found reposing in my grip? It looks so interesting. But I have been restraining my curiosity nobly (or Hannah-ly) till the Christmas-day comes. Tho' I can't help wondering where it came from and what it is. By-the-way my hat came to-day from my uncle. It's very pretty, though it is too near the color of my old one. It's rather large and I am curious to know how I am ever going to get it back to College without lugging the band-box!
Back to College! That makes me think how quickly the two weeks will go. Mamma and I were down-town a long while to-day; I saw lots of people - Mattie among others - who fell on my neck and told me I was looking well "only thinner" - I suppose they are all telling you the same - "only fatter". It seemed so queer to see all the Holiday goods and hear nothing but Christmas plans. I felt as though I had been set down in another world from that of M.H.C. I think you'll be interested in knowing I invested in some shoes the first thing. Mamma was horrified when she saw the condition of my shoes. These new ones are mortal homely but I imagine will be both comfortable and serviceable for tramps. I shall hope to get to The Notch in these. I also got a little gift for you which I send on the same mail with this with many Christmas wishes. To quote from Dickens' "A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears - God bless us everyone!" The us meaning the Round Robins.
Write me of your trip home. I had Miss Slater and Miss Hartley all to myself going down to Holyoke with no crushes to interrupt. Sophie and Snell & lots of Smith & Amherst students got on at Northampton. At Greenfield we had a delicious supper at an enormous price. Our sleeper was filled with college students; all the evening we caught scraps of college talk, and doubtless they did the same from us. Sophie and I bunked together and talked until we got to Albany, then went to sleep through sheer exhaustion. The morning seemed very long; we were all so anxious to reach Jamestown. At last we came and there were all the Halls & Bakers - a goodly assemblage - to meet us.
It seems awfully good to be back again with those bears - Scott & Syd - to pull me around & Mamma to pet me. How I slept last night! I heard the boys go tumbling down-stairs this morning; I woke with a jump - and was on the verge of saying "What bell has rung, Nellie?" when I realized where I was. It's only nine and yet I am overwhelmingly sleepy, so I believe I'll just say once more Merry Christmas!