South Hadley Mass.
Nov. 5th /68.Dear Clara
What is the use of trying to cover this whole sheet, when I am so tired and when all I have to say might just as well be said in a few sentences? I suppose you will answer me by saying that I must do as I would like to have you do under like circumstances. First I suppose I must say something on the all-important subject, the result of elections, and tell you that all but nine of the people in this house were greatly rejoiced
at theto hear that this campaign, as everybody knew it would, ended in the election of [Ulysses S.] Grant and [Schuyler] Colfax [for President and Vice President of the United States]. Last evening we had a grand illumination, the appearance was probably not much different from what it has been in similar occasions when you have been here, it was my first opportunity and probably my last, for viewing the spectacle, its brilliancy exceeded my expectations.If you are favored by the same weather as we, you have a clear, cold evening, not very impropitious for your demonstration unless the wind blows out the torches.
I am sorry [Benjamin] Butler was elected [to the House of Representatives], but I supposed of course he would be, when I read in the Republican yesterday morning that fifty-four votes were cast in Danvers for [Richard Henry] Dana I hoped that father cast one. Tell mother I am glad that she was in favor of Dana, that shows that some women can have a mind of their own, and if they were allowed to vote they would not always vote the same as their husbands, and yet would not fight with them. Wonderful to relate I have had two letters which were not from home, during the last week, one from Alice Swinerton and the other from Carrie Proctor. You did one good thing by going to the Butler meeting, for if you hadn't told Carrie Proctor how much I was wanting letters I dont [sic] know as she would have written this term. Only think, three weeks from tonight will be Thanksgiving. Who is going to have the party this year? You haven't asked who was coming home with me, it will not be Ida I guess for her father has written that she had better go home with Mary Scott this vacation and perhaps go with me next spring. Lizzie is going to write to ask her father if she can come.
Miss Ward went away this morning, will not come back again this term, I dont know how we shall get along without her, but she says unless she gives up now for a little while; pretty soon she will have to give it entirely, that will be a sad day for this seminary in which Miss Ward bids it adieu. I was surprised to hear of Mrs. Swinerton's death, you had not said that she was any worse. Who took care of her during her last days. How are Abbie & Edwin Cheever, give my love to them, when you see them. Deacon Porter and Mr. Bridgman were at supper tonight.
Miss Parmelee has been heard from, several times I think, but she has [not] written any communication for the whole school. Will the Drivers move to Salem before I get home? There is a letter for Lizzie, from Ella, on the table but L- has not yet been up to open it, so I dont know what the contents are. Do you hear from her often? Have you commenced to study French yet, and how do you contrive to busy yourself, in about the same way as before I came away. Who has any thing new or made over, how is shoe business, where is L- and why doesn't he write to me, is it because he is so taken up with music and Latin, his favorite studies, that he has forgotten how much he likes to write.
The retiring bell hasn't rung but yet my sense of right tells me that I have written enough, so I will close.
From your loving aff sister when absent but cross little heathen when present.
[A second sheet; first part is in a different pen but appears to be same handwriting as first letter]
Clara take notice.
You didn't send me Eliza's address, you didn't send me the canvass I wish you would or else say that
thatyou are not going to do so and send me some money to buy some and then I wanted you to cut out a slipper pattern just the right size and if you can I wish you would or else tell me that you are not going to do it and tell me then I canfirstobtain a pattern of a seven[.]I don't [know] where that little pattern for the c
hushion is but I hoped that you would find it in some of the work-boxes or somewhere about the house.[handwriting change]
Clara H. Mudge If you don't write to me - I dont know what I shall do to you - send you to bed without any supper.
I had quite a long letter from Ella this evening it's a consolation that one of my roommates remember me if the other one dont, however I mean that she shall. I shall write you a note in every one of Milly's letters until you become completely subdued & come to the conclusion that you had better have written before to
Lizzie