Thanksgiving Day,
South Hadley Mass.
My Dear Little Sister, [May is about 11 years old]
This is Thanksgiving day! The gleam of the winter sunshine on the hills is warmer, even the little birds in the court are singing sweeter today because they are glad they live. This is New England's holiday, all the schools are closed, and all the fathers & mothers are gathering the children together under the home roof. I wish I could clap my hands like the fairies do and find you all sitting around me. I came across the most marvelous story the other day that I'm just pining to tell you.
(Here comes Blanche flying down the hall in her slippers and dressing sack but I wont let her in)
I'm having a peaceful time of rest. Sue has gone to the ministers to stay until tomorrow, and just to be alone in my room is perfect bliss. I am going out to a high dinner at six oclock. One of my classmates, who lives in Holyoke is going to send their carriage for me at three oclock. I will stay all night and return to school tomorrow, as our recitations begin tomorrow morn.
The girls have been so kind to me, every little thing I have done for any of the girls this year has been doubly recompensed today. I feel as if it were Xmas. I miss Sue who always appreciates my offerings of fruit &c. Just because I can have it I don't care for it, human nature again. What are you all doing today? I can imagine two of you engaged in the interesting process of washing dis[h]es, no. 3 practicing "Only a pansy blossom." The Mt Holyoke edition of it is - "Only an Amherst student." Only an Amherst boy yet to me far dearer &c. Ask Edd if he don't wish he was an Amherst student? I hear Joe [their little brother, about 3 years old] has developed into a dudelet [?] - what a discovery tell him I'm astonished! How is Morrison [their little brother, about 9 years old] getting along at school - Tell him I have not heard anything about our interesting friend "Sam Skinny" for a long time - how is he getting along? I see by the paper that Mr Gordan the ex-gardian [sic] of knowledge at Ol Pleasant has a night school at Circleville what a blessing. What an enlightened community you will be by the close of the year! I intended to write you a long letter, but I find it is time to begin to dress for the jamboree. Love & gladness to you all the day.
Write to me soon I'm hungry for a letter from you. The mail has just brought me a nice letter from brother. G.