Mt. Holyoke College
Feb 14, 1890
My dear sister,-
Amherst College has changed commencement week, having it come one week earlier, and so our commencement must be a week earlier, and the term closes June 19 instead of June 26. To help in making up the lost week our spring vacation will be shortened one day, so that we have from Thurs. night Mar. 27 to Tues. night Apr 8. Twelve days, as you will agree. I am delighted to think we get out so much earlier in June.
I have rec'd some quite elaborate testimonials from Mr. Bisbee and Mr. Childs. I will give you the most salient - - -
Just here I am interrupted by your letters, and they must not be passed without notice. Something written by you and mother sound slightly sarcastic to my ears, but I am serene, for I feel confident of success not only with myself, but with you.
To return to "the most salient" points. The first is from Mr. B. "I have known --- for several years and recommend her as well-qualified by natural ability, education moral and and Christian character, to engage in educational and Christian work; whever God in his providence may call her."
Mr. Childs:- "taught one term w. great acceptance. Should have been glad to give her a [?]ch. of same or higher grade the following year, if such had been her pleasure. work as teacher, good discipline, though quiet, effective."
Sunday morning.
I am enjoying the first cold of the season. I slept cold Fri. night but was too stupid to get up and put more on, and I spent two hours in a cold recitation room yesterday morning, where I was uncomfortable though I had on my shawl. I should not have noticed it, if I had not had some cold, and think I added to it.Our next work in Rhetoric to be handed it before Mar. 15 is an essay. Miss Stevens said she was surprised in the stories to have so little originality and individuality shown, and she expects our essays will be much better. I have decided to write on "The Physiognomy of the Days." It will be presented in an original form, representing the days as subjects of King Tempus, and since days mean so different in diff. places, I shall confine myself to days at Mt. Holyoke College.
Your remarks which were so sarcastic about the rotundity of my form are excusable on the ground of your ignorance, and mother's base insinuation in regard to society is hardly worthy of notice. But granting that I lack society in a family of three hundred ladies, many of them of wealth, culture and refinement, I have many things that society would do well to imitate and it will not be impossible for so-called So. A. society to learn something from me. It will not be embarrassing to be a reformer when I have such an authority as Mrs. Jenness-Miller to support me.
Lizzie has not written to me yet. Are they moving now? I laughed at the spectacle of Jennie & her friends being refused admittance for I conclude by what you wrote that that was the case. I have a letter from Clara that I will send you. It seems so good to get a long letter from mother again. In fact I thought I had quite a feast in the letter line last week. I seemed to hit on a subject that gave you all an opportunity for eloquence. I haven't anything to write about this week. When Evangeline's mother comes I am going to spend the night in Miss Alcott's room. My roommate feels that I am possessed of quite a martyr-like spirit to be willing to do it, and compliments me by saying she would not have dared to ask any one else to do it. You can not fully appreciate the situation without seeing Miss Alcott. Hereafter you may think of me as spending all my leisure at table. I shall try to learn the art of composing my essay while at table. My story was written in my mind after retiring, and written on paper the next day. For our Bible lesson today we have to draw & bring to class a diagram of the tabernacle and court, placing all the furniture pillars &c. and our lesson covers sixteen chapters. I have been feasting on Japanese tea dates & magic oil this forenoon. Your loving sister Mabel.
8.45 This evening Prof Young our lecturer in Astronomy conducted a meeting in Sem. Hall. He seems like a very earnest Christian as well as an authority in Astronomy. He is professor at Andover.
My Bible class is united w. Miss Hodgkin's, to give us a teacher, and we meet in one corner of Sem. Hall. Katherine is in that section.
I am looking forward with great eagerness to Mary's visit, and I hope she won't come alone. If mother can't come, get Minnie or Clara Bridgman or someone.
With abundant love,
The missing link,
Mabel
Tell Marnie I want to see her & am coming home soon.