Indiana, April 8, 1877
Mrs Maggie Robbins
Dear Ma
I received your letter and the money last night; I suppose I would have received it much sooner had not something occurred concerning the mail, which detained it on the way. The ten dollars was very acceptable to me, and I am very much obliged for it. I have been intending to write to you for quite a good while but it seems to me every hour in the day has its special work, and it is too wet tonight to go to gather flowers for Botany. We have to get flowers to analyze every day. I think Botany is a grand study, but awful hard, Prof. says he will he will [sic] not consider a lesson prepared unless we spend an hour and a half on it, before coming to class.
Brother and I are getting along pretty well with our studies I feel discouraged sometimes and think I am not getting along fast enough but I am doing all I can.
I suppose you are having delightful weather the last two weeks. We are having cold chilly rains nearly all the time, it hailed this afternoon.
I was very sorry to hear about the smallpox being so near. I was imagining you all had them, there is no danger of any thing of the kind around here. I was very sorry to hear of Mr Samms [?] death.
Miss Lenard lectures to night in the M. E. church, on the present war, how I would like to go but cannot, to know it will be splendid. I am in one of her classes and every day we have a committee that reports the progress of the war &cc. and talks about a great deal. I suppose Pa will be interes[t]ed in watch[ing] its progress.
Our Societys are improving very much, the H.F.S. was the best society last fryday [sic] night, there has been this term.
There is quite an excitement hovering around, yesterday morning four of the gentlemen said they were sick and could not go to class, and went away and did not come back untill [sic] evening. Prof. Sensenig talks of expelling them, they are first class students and if they would be expelled it would hurt the school very much.
I suppose yesterday (Thursday) has settled whether you will sell or not I am very anxious to hear the result of the meeting of the jury.
I am very glad to hear that Florence is no worse, I did not know whether she was better or not for I never get to hear about her.
Give my love to all the children and tell Morris [her baby brother; no older than six] I would love to have some Blue bells and violets here, much love to Pa and yourself, write soon.
Your affectionate daughter
Gertrude Robbins. [about 13 years old]P.S. Edd [her older brother] send[s] love and want[s] you to let him know the result of the jury.