Riverview.
Eastern Pa.
July 30, '84.
Dear Gertrude:-
Your two letters came to crown me with your remembrance and love and I thank you for them both. So you expect to go away next year, mysterious being, and do not deign to tell me where, what, who or why. Well, there is nothing like discipline in this world and I suppose I can await your pleasure.
I was interested to know from whom of the Sem. friends you have been hearing. Not a word have I had from Miss Parsons, - but then she had much to dislike in me, and such things leave their effect.
I have not yet heard from Mary Avery, nor Carrie Aumock. Give my love to Miss Jennings when you write. Truly, our absolutely unconscious influence must be a strong one, if she regards me in the light of an ideal!
She is a sweet girl whom I always admired but knew less than I could have wished.
Yes, I wrote a respectably long letter to Miss Blanchard, but I have heard not a word from her either. However, Miss Blanchard has so much to fill her time,that one could hardly expect much in the way of correspondence.
My dear, I haven't an idea where my copy of the Class Poem is. When I unpacked my oceans of things, I put everything away so carefully that I can't find anything! I hope those class-books will be out before long. I am very anxious to see them. Your oration is to be in it, is it not? It must be. Lost my diploma too! That is to say I can't find it high or low. Of course it's about somewhere.
My pupil progresses well and I quite enjoy it. Caesar comes back to me very easily, so the preparation isn't much, & the young lady is bright & ready.
Had a lovely letter from Greta. Mr Shoemaker [Greta's fiance] has gone abroad as you doubtless know. I hope he will come back to her safe and well. The thought of the cholera makes me shiver, but I wouldn't speak of it to her for anything & there will probably be little danger. It is on the decrease, I believe.
Blaine's letter of acceptance helped me too on questions of revenue & Tariff & commerce. Especially as father read it aloud to us and explained & annotated & interpolated as he went. He did not read it all, but will finish it some day.
Did I tell you Mother & I are reaching Macaulay's England? Fine, clear, brilliant. I enjoy it much. Read Phillips Brooks sermon "The Candle of the Lord." I read it & read it again & again.
"Are the Consolations of God small with thee," Gertrude dear? They may be very great if we will submit & yield our selfishness & our pride and our wills to Him. There is no other happiness. I am sure of it as I am that there is a sun in the sky. Whether we do it or not, there is no other way or solution or hope for us. For the "vision" will be revealed to every one, - either to be theirs forever or - to be but a vision of Eternal loss against which they may beat in vain in the impotence of despair. Why will not men see this? They must be [..]n't to see it. Write soon to me again
Yours Winifred.
Hear[d] from Addie but have not seen her. She is better.