[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Holyoke No 27 1841 Saturday
Dearest Clara,
My vacation has now passed away, with astounding rapidity. My plans for letter writing, have been frustrated, on account of business pressure. Do you not remember, when in Hadley, how little we used to accomplish, during a short relaxation from study? I have had a pleasant time, as you may well suppose, dividing the time in such a manner, as to walk, ride, play, and study some[.] I did intend to write some more letters, those I have done, but each time, when I was ready for a visit, with my absent good friends, I was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of other friends.
Now, my dear Clara, I haste to answer your very welcome letter, and to give you questions, which your ready pen may answer, as I hope soon. I think from your short description of Millville Centre that it may be a pleasant village, though I have supposed not so thickly inhabited perhaps as So. Hadley. Mr. Coggswell extends the same fatherly kindness although Mr Parker loves him not I am disposed to call him a very "good sort of a man." The lovers of romantic names, will I should suppose visit Millville Academy, and form an acquaintance with Messrs Coggswell, Hazeltine, and Miss Montague. I wish you would describe to me more fully the scenery in and about Millville. I never have been there and you know any thing interests me. I believe, I said the same thing, in substance, in a former communication, but I mentioned it now, through fear you had forgotten.
As to the scenery about S. H. it is beginning to be, as it has where you left us, that warm day in August last. Vegetation has been very backward this season, and is still considered so. Apple, Cherry, and Peach trees, have but just put forth their flowers, which gives to them, so much beauty. The wild flowers, which with us, are so great favorites, are becoming quite abundant. Our summer evenings, I call them such, are so fine, I almost wish you here, to enjoy them. We have our "tea" at six then have recreation until 7 3/4. We go forth, in large walking parties, to enjoy the beauties of creation. I do not think there is a happier family, in the whole United States. Am I saying too much?
We have some very pleasant young ladies. I have left No 7., as you knew that was the sick room, and now occuply, No 27 which although a "back room" I think is pleasant. Miss Sarah Bonney, whom you remember has left me and now rooms with Miss Reed in No 31, which you recollect, was formerly, Miss Whitman's room. Perhaps you ask where Miss W. is? Oh, Clara, she has lost her room-mate and has gone in Miss Lyons bed-room. And you ask where Miss Torrey is? She has gone to her father's house to remain the present term, because she felt she needed more rest than our summer vacation would give. She will return the coming year. You ask who takes Miss T's place? I answer Miss Lucy Lyon who came before our spring vacation began. Things are not quite permanent, even at Holyoke you see.
Miss Cathlene Thorp, from Southport Ct. rooms with me now, in connection with Miss Sabrina Jennings. Find very pleasant friends. Miss Lyon's health remains poor yet, as I fear it always will be, she sometimes says [...] great has to, Miss Mon. Moody as she used to do. She remains the same unaltered good lady. You cannot imagine, how much she enjoys the "going up" of the new building. Will you believe me, when I tell you, the roof is one, and the workman [sic] are partitioning the rooms, to be occupied the next year. I never saw a piece of work, grow as it has grown.
By the way, Clara I do not know, as you will recognize So. Had. on your return. It has become quite fashionable, to build new and repair old houses this year. Mr. Lyman Smith, is going to have a fine hotel, but it is not a Temperance one. Mr. Tower and David Chandler are ripairing [sic] this. Mr. T. marries this week I hear. Martin Burnett, you know is building a new one opposite his fathers. Mr Trumbull occupies the house formerly by Mr Miller, which is being repaired. Morgan Nash, is putting on addition to the old house, which is moved back from its original stand. Report says he too is to be married to Miss Frary who teaches school in the center this year. (And Emcline Chamberlin teaches the small one.) Mr John Nash, has moved his, and putting on an addition. Mr. Alfred Judd, together with his brother Solathiel, live in the house occupied by George Burnett. He has rented his in which he did live[.] Mr Goodale lived in the house occupied by him formerly. I said it was very fashionable to repair or build but not with your and my own home. Those remain the same -
Wednesday. May 26. You see dear Clara this is not completed as yet. I shall hope to mail it to-morrow. Do you not think I have written you a mass of news, but I thought I must tell you all I think news from the home of my childhood would be such as I should hope to hear were I as far from that home as you are.
I had a very long social visit with Cousin Milzar. during vacation[.] He spoke of Mr Hazeltine and said he should probably see him at Williamstown if he came to Mass as his lady love resides there. He thinks he shall spend some of his next vacation in attending our examinations the last of July. Enos attended two days of our spring examinations. I did not see him very much but I do think Milzar has improved very much since I saw him last. I have received a visit from Cous. Dorcas Phelps and Martha[.] They are intending to leave Northampton for Boston where Samuel is now. Mrs Samuel Phelps has a dear little son so Martha said. Marin thinks of returning to Albany again I believe. Do you ever hear from her? She is a dear good girl I love her very much.
The two elder Misses Brown from Templeton who graduated here are to take charge of the girls High School in Northampton. I have seen Miss Allen of whom you have spoken to me. She was at the Sem. a short time but has now gone to New Jersey teaching, but perhaps you hear from her. Sabrina went to Brookfield last vacation and heard Mary B. would be married this autumn. Mr Harwood finishes his collegiate course the coming July. Commencement at Amherst is one week sooner than our examination.
Clara did you not say you would be present at a part of our examinations. I should be happy to see you, only nine weeks from the coming Friday before our present year closes. I say to myself frequently can it be that one more year I have spent within these walls. I think it rather uncertain about my returning the next year though I may do so. Shall you probably be here? Of course you will not if you decide to return to Millville - the next year will pass away as rapidly as the present and so will all our years until there be no more years to spend.
My dear friend how soon with us youth will have become old-age, how very soon time with us will end. Let our aim be to attain a greater degree of holiness than hitherto we have done that our years spend not themselves away in vain. I feel the present one has not altogether been unprofitable to both of us for we have both known a rich shower of divine grace. oh! that each year as it bears us onward might be marked by the same manifestations of divine power and grace. Clara it is our privilege to be useful. The world has its claims upon us but Jesus claims our service more. I do believe I feel willing to deny my own fleshly inclinations to subdue the wayward passion that I might do more for my Savior. These hands, these hearts all we have will we give to thee who ransomed our souls from death and the grave. Let our conduct show the love we bear our Immanuel's [sic] cause. I have to think of my absent friends as meeting before the throne of grace there [?] I trust Clara and I use [?] every times have met. There remembered each other and prayed fervently for strength to perform the various duties enjoined upon us in our several stations. I feel this time hastening on when we as individuals are to take more of a decided stand for God and the church than we hitherto have done as I think of it and remember that the Christian character is forming as our other character forms I feel for a time solicitous in reference to my own spiritual state and influence upon the side of Christ. May ours not be the dull formed life that characterises so many who are nominally Christians.
The longer I live the more I think there is no such thing as rest for the useful Christian. "Ne'er think the victory won till thou has got thy crown." often passes rapidly through my own mind. Doubtless you find trials and tempations [sic] where you now are as well as when you were in Hadley. Possibly greater ones they are different ones I suppose though from expirience [sic] you know I cannot tell. How do your youthful Christians appear now. It is so much to [...] the lamb along that it be next devoured by ravenous wolves. How many have you now that profess no interest in the great atonement. Gladly would I tell you if I might of the conversion of every member of our household but there are now five of the thirty who had no hope for themselves at the beginning of the year. I must once more close. Irene
Dearest cousin,
You may be surprised to recieve [sic] these few lines from me when you are entirely unacquainted with, but so it is, & here I have written. (Pardon my boldness) I suppose Irene has written what sort of a [...] note she has, no other than Cathleene Thorpe from Southport Conn. Here Irene sits beside me, watching every movement, I suppose she is, afraid I shall write something naughty about her. I don't mean to give her a chance to gratify her curiosity. She is poring over Euclid with her eyes now shut and her brow contracted as if thinking intensly [sic]. Oh dear I am afraid she will never speak again of any thing but Euclid. I room in cell No. 27. I often look through the iron bars toward New Haven to see if I can by chance espy my dear home, but nought [sic] but mountains bound my view all around! I dare say you have a feeling of sympathy with one who longs to go home. Oh that word sends a thrill of rapture through my very bones. We have all ([...]) three of us been writing composition to day on the same subject it was Jacks sermon from his pulpit. I suppose you recollect the flower by that name Jack in the pulpit, quite a literary subject, think you not?
I shall expect an answer to these few hasty scribbles in your next [...] is made to Irene wh. must be soon until then I remain your Holyoke friend M. C. Thorpe.
One word more and my sheet is as full as it can well be. Do not fail to improve the first leisure moment for writing your friend in Hadley. Did I know the friends you have formed they should recieve [sic] my sincere regards. My love to those who love thee