South Hadley, Mass.
Sep. 10 1882.
My Dear Father,
I reached Springfield last night in time to take the late train for Smith's Ferry's, so reached him without any trouble or delays and am ready to begin work tomorrow.
I feel considerably worried over that ticket but could not understand why you did not send it down to me Friday morning or on the noon or evening train, I telegraphed you Thursday as soon as I discovered you had not given it to me with the trunk checks as I supposed you had at the time, but if I had looked at the time as I should have done there would have been no trouble, one thing is certain you did not give me the ticket, and if you cannot account for it I suppose it is lost. The ticket agent at the Union Depot, said if you brought it in before Sat. eve (yesterday) they would take it back and refund the money, if not you would have to send it onto Mr. [March?] of Philla, as Harry has written you. I understood that there would be no loss if any, if you still have the tickets, and knowing that getting here for Monday was greatly to my advantage, I run [sic] the risk and bought another ticket.
The School is very full unusually so, there are over three hundred pupils. At present I am sleeping in a music room and have my trunk in the attic and during the day occupy a room with two old students that were here when I was here before, they are not girls that I care particularly for, but I submit gracefully as my fate might be a great deal worse! The possibilities among three hundred girls from every where is unlimited.
There are over a hundred girls in the years class and they are the brightest looking class of girls that have tried to enter here for a long time.
The prospects are that most of them will get through. Many improvements have been made; new ground has been bought and made into a very pretty park, the library has been enlarged and hard polished floors been put in all the halls and offices.
The teachers are all back with the exception of Miss Ward who is in Europe, expects to be gone all the year. I'm delighted by many familiar faces but the girls I cared most for are gone.
Your loving daughter,
GertrudeWill write to Chillie Teusday. [sic] [Chillie is her younger sister, about 12 years old.]