[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]So. Hadley. Oct. 26, '41.
My own dear Dorcas.
I received your paper and hasten to comply with your request to write you. You were doubtless surprised to hear of my return to S.H. This is a changing world you know. Sometimes, I think there is no use in making any plans for the future but just wait the leadings of Providence. Any plans I make are almost always frustrated, any hopes entertained, blasted __
Would that I might anticipate the questions you would like to ask me, that I might answer them. I suppose, of course, you will be interested in hearing with regard to the school this year. Our number is increased to about 190. You cannot imagine the variety in appearance. I room in the fourth story on the back side. Have a pleasant room & a Miss Clapp from Chesterfield, a delightful roommate. Misses Parsons & Hazen are teachers & I think will be very popular. Every thing goes on just about as it did last year. No very material change, & yet I feel that there is a change, a mournful change. I have no Dorcas & no Adaline to share my joys & participate in my sorrows - Oh! that you were here. I have been hoping you would be here. There will be an interesting Senior class this year. A. A. Browne, A Mowry, C. Wright & Laura Wright, Webster &c. &c. Would that you were here to join them.
Adaline, I hear from occasionally. I wrote her last eve. She intends to return after Thanksgiving. She seems very sad & disconsolate. Daniel died, I believe, five weeks ago today, was sick but two or three days most of which time, he was delirious. May this severe affliction tend to make her more devoted to the service of Christ.
There are but few old scholars here, a Miss Fuller is here who was here when you were. I love her much[.] As regards examinations, I have got along well, have been examined in Greece & Rome, Phys, Geology, Rhetoric, Smellie, Political Class Book, Botany & nearly the whole of Algebra. Have nothing now but the remainder of Algebra to be examined in. How horrid these examinations are! There are many who have not finished their preparatory studies yet. It is thought some will not succeed in getting through[.] You will be surprised to hear Miss Reed is general leader also Miss Savage. It is necessary to have two. Thus much for Mt. Hol. Sem. & I imagine you will have no objections to my changing my theme. Just let me add an item more. Mr. Brown is here teaching writing. I imagine you have not forgotten him. It seems natural again to have him a member of this "interesting family."
I received letters from home yesterday. Mr. Rose is going to take his exit in a short time, 18th of Nov. is the day appointed for his dismissal. Martha writes that "he
hatesis mad with everyone & all are mad with him." I am not surprised at all to hear this. His course has been an inexpedient, not to say unchristian, one. But it is now nearly finished in Chesterfield, & probably none will regret it. You all know him in W. Mss. R. & Mary will probably spend the winter in Chesterfield.Thus far I have said nothing with regard to Charley. You have doubtless heard of his visit home the object of which was to obtain one to share with life's joys & sorrows. I know not how much you have heard & therefore will tell all briefly. He had in his mind a distant cousin of ours, whom he used to know ten or twelve years ago, having heard by us she was a young lady of very excellent character. Her he visited, loved & in less than two weeks from the time he saw her, married. Mary Eagen of Worthington was the object of his affections & she is indeed worthy them. I love her very much already. Twenty five relatives accompanied them to New Lebanon where they were united in the strongest of all bonds, matrimony. We had as good a wedding as we could have had in any of our parlors, cake was carried on with us. There is indeed a great change in Charley. Never was there a brighter display of the efficacy of the face of God than in his case. He is now every thing we could wish him to be.
This letter is not what I wish it was. However I abhor apologies. Now, dearest Dorcas will you not write me soon? Be assured I should be very happy to hear from you & shall be disappointed if you do not write me. Oh! that you were here to mingle with us in these pleasures. I am more happy here than ever before I think. It only wants you & Adaline. I have not heard from Wilbraham friends for a long time. Love to Uncle Merrick's family when you see them. Remember me affectionately to your family, particularly your mother & dear Flora & believe me as
Ever Your truly aff. Jane
You have probably heard in this of the death of Anne Clark - a long obituary notice of her was written & published in the Northampton papers & other papers also - Thurs friend after friend departs "There is no union here of hearts That finds not here an end" - Helen is very lonely & sad.