[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Steubenville Ohio
April 19. 1881.My Dear Sister:-
"Just about time she was writing" I think I hear you say. Yes I am fully aware of that fact and am ashamed of myself too but guess it can't be helped. I am so full of business that I can't give my friends proper attention at all. It often times keeps me busy to be civil. They have been sort of calling me to account lately. Several have written me real severe notes and lest you give me a lecture too I am going to do my long neglected duty. I have not heard from you all since mother left but I take it for granted you are all well and nothing wrong for if there were I would hear it.
Will Eckels asks for Mary every once in a while through Mervin and I am often compelled to say I have not heard anything about her. The last word I sent him was that she has lots of beaux. Mother wrote me that I think I am pretty well though I am getting tired out and am longing for summer to come so I can rest.
I have a great deal of hard work before me yet this year and am a little afraid I shall get dreadfully tired. Have ten public examinations to conduct at the close of school and a gymnastic or rather calisthenic exhibition to prepare. It is harder for me than for the other teachers because it is my first year and I know a great deal depends on my success or failure at the close. My invitation to come back next year is all cut and dry though and I do not need to worry on that score. Suppose I shall come back. D. V.
How I wish you could be here for Commencement. Can't you come? I would be proud to have you as my guest. I know Mrs. Reid [the head of the Seminary] would be ever so glad to have you. In some unaccountable way I have gotten into Mrs. R's good graces and her devotion to me is a constant source of amusement to the other teachers. She has treated me just royally all year and I think she will keep it up as long as I stay. I have not profiled much by your advice with regard to Dr Beatty for I have been so busy and he has been away so much I have really not had the chance to cultivate his acquaintance. Mrs Beatty is a fine friend of mine though. Not long since she was up at Allegheny and while she was talking with Dr Kellogg one evening she took occasion to ask him about Mervin. The Dr assured her he was a good and smart man.
"He needs to be" she replied "if he married our Miss Mateer"
"Well" said the Dr "he needs the best kind of a wife"
I was just a little amused when she told me about it and I appreciated the feeling which prompted her to stand up for me thus too.
My studies this spring have been a real pleasure to me even if I have had to work hard. Just now I am scouring the country for flowers and pressing them under trunks bed posts &c. You know all about it dont you?
My plans for the summer are pretty well matured and I must give you the benefit of them. But first let me whisper something in your ear in the way of news. Dr. Smith, the Cincinnati man who is going out to China with Rob [their brother, Robert Mateer], has made up his mind to take Annie Morrow with him. They are engaged are to be married in July and go with Rob Sept 1st. It was all done up last week though Rob. and Dr. Smith and Annie and I had been corresponding about it for some time past. She knew all about him, and he knew all about her before he went to see her.
I am going to Columbus immediately after the close of school which is June 5th and will probably stay with Florence three weeks perhaps a little longer. From there I go to Uncle Roberts stopping for a short time in Pittsburgh at Wm. Shaw's to visit his niece with whom I am rooming. Shall stay at Plain Grove about two weeks and then go on to Annies and attend her wedding. Dont know how long I will have to stay with her but must be home by the first of August or Mervin [her fiancee, with whom she broke her engagement when he changed his mind about going with her as a Missionary to China] will never forgive. Have had several very pressing invitations to go to Millstone and if I can get a chance to go on excursion rates I want to run down there some time in Aug. The rest of the time four or five weeks I shall spend at home. Our school opens the 8th of Sept so I must be back here then. These are plans: whether I can carry them out or not remains to be seen.
Mervin finished his examinations at Allegheny yesterday and started east this morning. The school in Mechanicsburg began yesterday morning. He will be there to teach tomorrow. I am ever so sorry he has that school on hands for he really is not able to teach: has not been well since Xmas and needs rest. We are not as near China as we were Christmas and I am beginning to fear we will never get any nearer. Still there is no tilling
[Letter is incomplete, but was written by Jennie's sister Lillie.]