[Original had no paragraph breaks; some are added here for ease of reading.]S. Hadley Nov. 18 ..45
Dear sister
Long have I been waiting for a few leisure moments that I could appropriate to writing without neglecting other important duties. Tomorrow is recreation day. I shall have no lessons to recite, but then I shall have enough to do to put my wardrobe & room in perfect order, walk two miles, & a great many things. Besides there is a Missionary meeting in the afternoon. Miss Mann has just been in to invite me to attend, & has caught me breaking silent study hours. Perhaps you would understand me better if I should explain what I mean by silent study hours. We have to devote three hours during the day exclusively to study, & from half past six till we retire, with a recess of fifteen minutes. We cannot speak, or make communication in the time; Sunday & Wednesday excepted.
I guess you will laugh at my letter, but I must forewarn you before I write any more, not to expect anything from the composition or penmanship, but only to give you a general knowledge of what is going on here. Miss Lyon says we must not stop to think & be so very particular when we write to a particular friend, but write what first comes into our minds which is much more acceptable. I hope you will recollect this when you write to me.
You cannot think how glad I was to receive a letter from Elisa. I received it just before going to a preparatory lecture, & as the church bell was ringing could not stop to read it, till I came home. I was glad to hear what news there was in it, but there was not half enough.
Miss Lyon has just returned from Boston. You cannot think how she has been making us laugh this afternoon. I wish you could have seen her when she talked to us. She said she had only twenty minutes to talk in, but she wanted we should remember even when grey hairs should whitin [sic] our heads, what she was going to say, just how she looked, & how she had only twenty minutes to say it in &c. I will tell you what it was sometime, as it will take up too much room on my sheet now. But I think I have not seen her otherwise than in constant motion in mind & body since I came here. She looks like Mrs. Mathewson as much as any one I can think of.
I told you about Miss Wright in my other letter. She has left Hadley. She came expecting to stay only a short time. Several of the girls are going to write to her upon one sheet, & I have found it placed in my door latch for me to write on but I think I will finish this first. I have got partially acquainted with a great many of the girls, with some quite familiar. I don't know how many have asked me if I was not from N York, or had friends there, & if I had a sister here. There is a young lady here, a great many have told me I look precisely like her (name Curtis).
Retiring bell has rung. I cannot write any more to-night.
O. dear! how I did hate to rise this morning. It is now a quarter past five & I will resume my letter, by first bidding you good morning. I will first write about my studies, perhaps you will be disappointed to hear I have not entered the Middle class, but you would not be surprised when I tell you how strict they are, more so than they have ever been before. I have been examined in Ancient Geography, Algebra, & Latin. However they will not let Latin cancel any of the Mathematics, & but very little of any study. They are arranging so as to bring it in as one of the required studies.
I have heard a number speak of their being much more strict than ever before. If we miss two or three answers it will not pass. Mary did not get through Arithmetic till the expiration of five weeks, but I suppose she would not like to have me tell of it. (Five have been sent home because they could not pass examination.) I did as many as thirty of the most difficult problems in Algebra before excused. Ask Mary if she could do that without a book. The teacher reads the sum twice & then we must show her the answer. I missed one but had to do another to make it up.
If I had our Rhetoric here, I think I might review it so as to be examined in the course of 4 weeks, at which time all examinations close. I could be examined in Comstocks Philosophy, but they require Olmsteds. I am now studying Latin, & analysing Pope's Essays. All have to take Pope except the Senior class. In about three weeks I shall take French & drawing & then shall omit it. We can have only two lessons at a time with drawing, & are required to spend 2 hours on each lesson. Do not feel bad I have got along as well as I could.
Elisabeth has been unwell considerable since she came back. She received a letter from home yesterday. Her mother said she was convinced [three] years was to[o] long to stay here, except for an Iron constitution. There is one lady sick here with rheumatic fever her mother (Mrs. White from Long meadow) is here taking care of her.
Dear me! the breakfast bell has rung. We shall have biscuit & toast this morning -
I have been doing domestic work which was covering books for the Library. I have no very regular work, but Miss Scot [sic] never gives me any thing hard. Thanksgiving is close by Miss Lyon told us this morning when the vacation would be, connected with it. It commences next Wendnesday [sic] noon & continues till Monday noon. She gave us all a very polite invitation to spend it at our Holyoke home, but there are a great many going away. I shall think of you seated at supper on that day, your circle for the first time broken. I wish I could be with you then. But never mind I presume I shall enjoy myself here.
What is going on in Cov. [Coventry] Do write soon & write more particular than Elisa did. Has cousin J. gone to Ohio, sorry it was so dull he could not stay. should like to see you all. Sarah I should think you had suffered enough when away from home by not hearing from friends to take pity on me. Elisabeth & Mary have had 3 letters from home, besides bundles containing nuts, apples fennel &c. I was so glad to have ma write, I could not help cry for joy. Do write again, all write. Tell Frederic I will write to him after thanksgiving don't wait for me to write every other letter.
Mary & Elisabeth have just received an invite to go to Easthampton to Mr. Ely's thanksgiving. O such a good time we have had at the Missionary meeting, seeing a great many curiosities from India. Have you or Elisa been to Hartford yet, or got anything new.
I was sorry Mary Mathewson could not come & see me. Tell her, & C. Edgerton to write me a letter. If you can send my Rhetoric I should like to have you. How I want to see Augusta. I cannot realise that there is such a sweet little creature, and Emily Frances & Mary J. all go to school, tell them they must learn fast. How does the school prosper, or schools rather. Mary wants to know who teaches the east school.
I have just been to see them practice in Calisthenics, how beautiful. There was seven or eight gentlemen there I don't know who since learned students from Amherst college friends of the young ladies I suppose. I practice fifteen minutes every day. I think it is fine exercise & pleasant amusement.
How short the time will be till I go home, only eight weeks after thanksgiving. we three often sit down at twilight, & think of our friends far away, & talk over what each one is doing & even in imagination visit you. I can imagine you & Elisa on Sunday evening, talking over matters & things.
We keep sabbath evening here. From seven to eight you may imagine me one of the members of a little prayer meeting of about twelve in number. These little meetings are held all over the Seminary & prayer & praise assends at the same time from many hearts. There is one meeting which is somewhat larger, at the same time. All the impenitent meet together with their good teacher Miss Whitman. Several have experienced the love of God shed abroad in their hearts.
I forgot to tell you we had to devote four hours to composition every saturday. Have a writing exercise one hour, when we have nothing else to write, we have to write short letters, & billets to our teacher Miss Mann, a very genteel lady from Boston.
I wish you knew how they fix their hair here very pretty I think you would like it, a rosette behind. I want some ribbons very much to make one, but I think I cannot get any at present.
Now do write as soon as you can, all write in one letter and fill it out full. Dont let any one see this I beg of you. By the account on E's letter I should think it was very dull in C. [Coventry] I guess because I am not there.
Elisabeth & Mary send their love to you all. Now do not fail to let me hear from you as soon asyou can write. If there is any thing you want to know particular, that I do not think of, please write. I must bid you all good bye, & close by giving you all an invitation to come to Hadley and spend thanksgiving.
Give my love to all who take the trouble to inquire. I think Frederic must have had a fatiguing ride when I came here. I did not think he would get home that night, what is he doing nowdays. Tell him not to despair of receivinga letter, but I will write to him next, soon after thanksgiving, & I want he should write too, & we will see which will write the longest letter, not saying the best. I have not answered Mr. McLeans letter, & I don't think I shall. I wrote to you not to pay my postage, but E & M have theirs paid at home, & if you have a mind to pay mine you may. If you have an opportunity to send me anything you may send me some letter paper. I use a great deal. Send me a paper, you can send them to me, but I cannot to you. I shall be glad if you can read this, now don't criticise this. How does pa do. I want to see him. Does James L. live at our house. Are Uncle Mannings folks well. I suppose you do not miss me any at home. Tell ma to write to me, & be careful & not get sick. I have not written any thing interesting to you. Elisabeth makes such a noise cracking walnuts I cannot think.