Easton Pa.
Oct. 18. 1884.
Dearest G'y:-
I've just come up from the kitchen where I have been concocting a fine dish of escaloped oysters for my father's birthday tea, and while it is in the oven, I will talk to you a little while, as I've been meaning to do for days past.
Next week I expect Laura. She is with Greta now. You can imagine that I look forward with quiet pleasure to the dear girl's visit. "A sweeter woman ne'er drew breath" seems to me, than Laura Lane. Why every man who knows her don't fall in love with her is a mystery to me! Perhaps, as is often the case with the finest women, she doesn't "show off" before men.
Greta wrote urging me to come down there again, but I didn't feel that I could. She hates to give up Laura and I don't wonder.
How are you, dear girl? Don't think that I haven't been thinking of you all these days, Miriam, just because I've been unable to write. I've begun to take lessons in oil-painting and I am much delighted that I can do so. Whether I can do anything with it remains to be seen, but I only aspire to do pretty decorative work - flowers, fruit &c. So as I don't fly very high in my ambitions, I may succeed better. If you could only open my door and come in this minute into my dear little quiet blue room, and look out with me from this East window at which I sit! There is the Delaware below and the Jersey hills in Fall array all in a subdued twilight hue that yet has a warm, mellow tinge to it, and there away up the river is the Wye Ghatt - or gap in the hills where the river flows through. 'Tis a beautiful scene.
Gertrude are you well? Are you not happier and more at peace? Tell me honestly would you like to have me come out & see you next Spring? Because if you would like it, I don't know but I will. I know I should like to see you very much. I am well and busy. I hear from some one or other of the girls often from no one very often, however. I wish the Class books would hurry up and come out. Is your "oration" to be in it? It must be.
I have been made Secretary of a Decorative Art Club lately formed here! Think of it! No one more amazed than I, I assure you, at the honor. What think you of the campaign at present? I am reminded of the darkey story. A colored brudder in preaching to his flock said solemnly - "My frien's - dere am only two roads. Dere am de broad road dat leads to destruction, and dere am de narrow road dat leads to perdition!" Upon this cheering statement a darkey in the crowd cried out: "Under dese circumstances, dis yer darkey will take to de woods"!
Were I a man during this campaign I should feel like takin to de woods. As it is I can stay where I am & hope that Blaim will be elected as the better of two candidates. It is so dark I can hardly see & must stop.
Write soon to me,
Your loving Hilda.Mother told me to be sure to give you her love.