[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]
Bessie B. Nesbit
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Mass.Sun. April 28 '40
Dear Mama & Papa,
Greetings! Thanks ever so much for the special. It was too bad that I couldn't come home this week end but things like that can't be helped. It was really quite a relief in a way because I haven't had to cram so hard. I am just finishing my paper for mythology on Cassandra now. Wed. I have the Hist. blue book. Please wish me luck. It was also a little disappointing in a way not to be able to come home because I have to decide on my subjects for next year this week & I have an appointment with the head of the history department on Thurs. Also we draw nos. & choose rooms for next year.
I am in quite a quandry [sic] about rooms. Of course Sally isn't coming back and Stelle & Marion, having reduced rooms are going to room together. I would like to be with them & they are trying to get into Safford because the reduced rooms there are best. It would be safest if I could sign up with someone but I don't know exactly who. There is one girl named Jane Flagg that I have been considering, but I don't like to ask a person about something like that. Audrey & Hommie are signing to gether [sic] and are going to try to get into Rocky. I don't know exactly what I should do. I guess I'll just have to take the bull by the horns and ask Jane if I can sign with her. I am so afraid she will refuse me. I guess I'm just a timid soul but - - gee whiz.
Oh & the most exciting thing in the news is that Sally has been invited to Dartmouth for next week end to a big dance. If I hadn't made such a fool of myself, I might be going up also. But I suppose that's life. It just kind of hurts when something like that happens and I'm afraid it will continue to keep on happening. I have been working quite hard recently and can't seem to find any successful means of relaxation. If I don't work, I mope and worry. I hate to think of college without Sally and I don't think of it very often. Don't worry about me though, because I'll get over it.
Miss Laird couldn't come to dinner last week because she went away. Genevieve Dennison came up for this week end and it was good to see her.
I didn't go to church today but stayed home and studied. Fri. Sally & I went into Holyoke & saw "Vigil in the Night". It was pretty good. Yesterday afternoon we took a long walk & today I went over to see Stelle & we took pictures.
Gee I wish I were pretty or attractive or something. Speaking about being attractive, I need a new girdle very badly & a pair of summer shoes. I also would love two [sic] get some dresses with full skirts so that I wouldn't have to wear a girdle with them. I haven't gotten a new hat yet because I've gotten to the point where I don't care whether I have one or not. I haven't got anybody to impress so what's the use?
The epidemic seems to have died down. Do you think it would be all right for me to come home this coming week end? Thanks for getting the clock, and I certainly will appreciate the dresses. It's such a beautiful day to go riding - if one had someone to go riding with. That's the mood I'm in. I'll feel better when I don't have so much work to do. Well I must close now and finish my paper.
Love,
Bessie