[No paragraph breaks in the original letter; some added for ease of reading here.]At home
Sunday P.M.
July 13, 84Dear dear Gertrude:-
Your picture with the letter reached me yesterday and Oh! I was so glad to get them. I have been waiting patiently ever since I left the Sem. for that picture and would watch for every mail but it did not come and at last I made up my mind that you either had forgotten me or else did not care enough for me to send it after all.
But when it came I was out in the garden picking raspberries and I just sat down in the swing and read your letter over twice wondering if you meant all you said in it. I'm afraid you will think I'm horrid for writing that last, but once at the Sem. I told Carrie how you kissed me and said you liked me lots (I mean that time you gave those flowers to Miss Jack for me) and she said that you were very apt to say things that you did not mean. I don't mean anything against my dear Love for that but you see I didn't know what to think.
But now I believe you did mean everything you said the last time I saw you and what you said in your letter too for I believe you love (?) me some but not nearly so much as I do you. Do you write to or ever see Miss Jack? If you do will you please give her my love and tell her I'm waiting for the time to come when I can be good to her sister like she wanted me to be. The only reason I dread going back is that some of the dear seniors I used to love so much won't be there again. You may be assured that we four Loves will mourn over the [... ...] just as much if not more than anyone else.
I've been going to write you ever since I saw Louise, for when the picture did not come I thought you must have forgotten my address. And once I began a letter to you but thought there was no use in sending it for you said your address was not like the one in the catalogue. I'm going to direct this to Duncan Pa. as I suppose that is it. What county is Duncan in and are you near any large city and is it your own house? But you didn't tell me in your letter and you know I want to know.
Here is another - Do you write to Miss Ballard - and if so please give her my love. I've had one lovely long letter from Melie Nichols also her picture since I've been home, also letter from Kittie Love, Lucy Mosser and expect one every day from Carrie Aumock. You know she (I mean Carrie Aumock[)] and you are our two "Dears" and I think you are the dearest "Dear" but don't tell her I said so. Gertrude dear would you please come back to the Sem. and be a Post Graduate in something because I want to see you so much. I must stop now and write to Carrie Love.
With lots of love and kisses
and please write soon to
Your very loving friend
May R. Jennings
Grovestead
Essex County
New Jersey
P.O. Box #111.