South Hadley. Oct 10. 1846.My Dear Mother,
You must by this time, be anxious to hear whe
are your daughter is, and what she is about. I will tell you, - I am seated at the table in my room, all alone, as my room mate has gone to do her, extra work, as it is called.I fear Mother, you will think that I have forgoten [sic] home, and friends, the reason I have not written before, but no; you cannot indulge the thought. I have not forgoten any of my friends, nor your kindness to me, but think I can truly plead, the want of time, for not writing before.
I now hasten to inform you how I succeeded in coming alone. The first object that attracted my notice, after Father left me, was a young lady in the car near me, in tears, the cause of them I soon learned. She was from Brunswick Maine, was bound to the same place with myself. There was quite a company of us, that came together. I wish you could have seen us, as we stood in the parlor to have our names taken, and rooms, and room mates assigned to us. I was taken to the fourth story to my room, where I found my room mate. I have a pleasent [sic] room, only it is such a journey to get to it. I have been very fortunate in my room mate; her name is Clara Dawes, from Cumington. I like her very much, I could not have a better one.
I suppose you are waiting to hear, how I have got along in my examinations. I have got along better, much better than I anticipated, have got through all except History. They are very particular in most of the studies. Several have gone home. I have felt badly for fear I could not stay, but think now if my health continues to be good I can stay.
You need not fear Mother, that I shall suffer for the want of exercise, for I room in the fourth story, have to go down to meales, [sic] recitations, and to my domestic work. I assist in clearing tables, sweeping the dining hall, &c. The allotted time for each to work in a day is an hour, and ten minutes, and beside all of the rest, we are to walk one mile, and back each day. There is a great deal of work done here, but it is all done by rule, so that it is not hard as it otherwise would be. I have not yet learned the precise number of scholars, but think there are not far from 225.
scholars andWe all eat in one hall, and it is well filled. We tend devotions in the dining hall after supper, and in the Seminary hall, in the morning, at which we have singing, and one plays on the piano. - -This is our recreation day, the first we have had;
sinceI have just returned from a walk up Prospect Hill, in company with my room mate, and three others, one from Ohio; I enjoyed my mile walk much, the first full mile I have walked. We have a pleasent family, but it does not seem like my own home yet. I think of our pleasent kitchen often, (and some times wish I was in it) but am better contented than I anticipated. If I feel sad there are kind friends to cheer me up. I do not have much opportunity to become acquainted with the young ladies, for it is against the rules, to speak above a whisper in the space way, dining hall, orrecitationto call at rooms, except at appointed times. We have a rule given us for almost every thing. We are to keep account how many times we go to the store, and are not allowed to purchase any eatables except fruit. Miss Lyon said we might have kind friends that would wish to send us a box of food, but she wished us to request them not to. She has no objection to our friends sending us boxes of fruit, and that is just what I want, can you not send me some of our good apples. We live very well indeed. I have a good appetite have not been so homesick as to loose [sic] that. My health has been very good since I left home. You must not [worry] at all about me, for if I am not well there are enough here [to take] good ca[re] of me. Do be sure Mother not to work so hard as to [get sick], do not try to get along alone. Miss Lyon says we must [request that] our friends not to pay the postage on the letters or papers they send [to us]. We are not to go to the office, all of our letters are brought to the seminary. I shall look for a letter as soon as one can come, after you have received this. The scholars are receiving letters from home, and I have not even heard from you, may I not hear soon. My best love to all, and a good share for yourself. Do not expose this letter, for I have written it in great haste, and only a little at a time, so that I expect it will read some like an Almanc [sic]. Mother, if Lucinda has not had a slip of my Hydranges [sic], I wish you would see that she has one, before it becomes so cold as to freeze it. Please tell Lucinda I want a long letter from her and from Thomas too. My love to Sarah Dall who inquired[.]Father will you not write me a long letter. I shall be home sick if I do not hear soon from you. I shall write as often as I can, but shall not have much time. The Sabbath I am as much engaged as any day, go to meeting spend an hour and half on my bible lesson, and meetings in the evening so I do not have much time to write, any day.
When you write please direct to South Hadley. Mt Holyoke Female Sem- I should be happy to receive a paper, or anything from home. Mother, if you have not returned those books to Miss Adams I would like to have you when convenient. Give my love to Miss Adams. I left those books on my stand up stairs.
My sheet is about full and I must close.. I think you will have hard work to read this. Please accept this as the first letter from your daughter