Heliotrope Inn
Easter Even, April 1, 1893.My Dear Nellie;-
"How you was?" I am flourishing like a green bay-tree. Did you reach your destination in safety? Was the parting between you and Alice "teching"? Did your sister meet you? What did you wear to the party? Did you have a perfectly splendiferous time Tell me the whole tale.
After you went I went over with the early mail to the P.O. with Eva. Then we had a daisy breakfast (poached eggs on toast, coffee with real cream - please forget that I had eaten breakfast with you!) at No. 4 with Miss Randolph and all the other "cute" (!) people. Then we had to wash the dishes - I guess it was the most hilarious dish-circle that the old Domestic Hall ever saw. But after that was done and we separated to our several rooms then the stillness was appaling. [sic] It was an intolerably long morning, Eva & Grace had a good deal to do before we "move" and the rest of us just hung around waiting for them. Along towards noon we started, a picturesque procession toting our Lures and Penates in a confused manner. We found our new abode very clean and neat. Sallie & I took the smaller room and the others the large room. The sitting room is beneath the large bed-room - a sunny, pleasant home-like sort of a room.
Mrs. Barrett is very - well I should all her a typical Yankee housewife. We have a cozy little table for six and really very good fare - a change anyway. We breakfast at 8, dine at 12:30 and sup at 6 - go to bed when we feel like it. The Doctor has not as yet "arrove". Grace serves and Irene "sits" opposite being the two Juniors. We call ourselves The Happy Family or Short Sixes. Grace is Pop, Irene Mop, Nellie Vöglein (because she wanted to call our hotel The Bird-Cage!) Eva is Heliotrope, Trope for short. Sallie is The Maid because she is constantly waiting on some of us. I am Aunt Betsey, for no particular reason. Irene has a tiny heliotrope that she is nursing for Gertrude MacN. and she made such a fuss over it that we christened the house Heliotrope Inn.
We have read a good deal, walked some, "lazed" considerably and joked of course. Vöglein is constantly perpetrating some atrocious fun. We have a set of rules & regulations forbidding Vöglein to make more than one joke an hour, fining any one singing - you can guess what! allowing no interference with the heliotrope &c.
The first eve. Elizabeth Gund and Edith Yeomans came over right after supper and we sat in the dark and discussed hypnotizin[g] for a couple of hours. Yesterday Eva - I beg her pardon Heliotrope painted some dear cards as souvenirs, we made candy and invited the girls next door, also Elizabeth Colton to spend the evening. We played games. Irene & I took Miss Colton back to the College. It is all so strange there, just here and there a kerosene lamp, and an unearthly stillness. Mrs. Park has come and is sick abed, Miss Edson had to have trays yesterday, Mrs. Mead was worse, Miss Hooker no better and of course Jennie the same. The few well ones are kept busy all the time working.
We all went down to the Bluffs this a.m. It was so warm we had to carry our wraps!
I've had three lovely Easter gifts - however I should have been inclined to weep over them had it not been for the girls. As it is I don't think of anything but just what we are doing and saying here - it keeps off homesickness most effectually but is making me keep Holy Week in a perfectly heathenish fashion - I am utterly disgusted with myself when I do think. I wish I were at home! Or that I were strong enough to live up to my convictions as I ought here. But you won't care for this stuff. My gifts are a dear blue & white doily from Inez G. a box of candy Easter eggs & a comical chicken from Miss Willard and a box of carnations from Mamma. You must answer soon. Letter-writing so far has been a drag. I haven't been in the mood, but overlook the rattiness of this and perhaps my next effort will be better.
Affectionately
Lucy.