Washington, Pa.
Oct. 11, /77Mr Joseph Robbins
Dear Pa.
I have been expecting a letter from some of you every mail, but it did not come. This is Thursday afternoon my lessons are all recited for today. I intended going to a lecture this evening delivered by Dr. Spear. Miss Sherrard is going to take any of the girls who wish to go, but I guess I'll stay at home from this one and attend some better ones that are going to be here after while. It seems about three months to me instead of one since I came here.I am kept very busy. I just wish I had more time. I cant take half as many studies as I want to. I expect to finish Algebra this term, and Physiology, Chemistry, Roman History, and I dont know about Geometry.
I think Geometry is awful hard. I have to put more time on it than any other study I have. I dont like the teachers here very well but I suppose if I can do my part they can do theirs. My standing last week in History was 100 & in Geometry 98, that is all I know.
I think Edd [her brother] is studying real hard, he calls on me two or three times a week, last week I was not very well and Miss Sherrard, allowed me to go up to go up [sic] to the College with him Saturday morning, it was quite a privilege & quite a novelty, as I had never been out only when walking with the teachers & girls. The College is a splendid building and very well furnished. I was very sorry to hear of Mrs Marchand's death.
Our Gymnastic teacher has been arranging the gymnastics this week, and a good many of the girls are getting Gymnastic suits. I would like very much to have one, but can do without it will cost about 5$ five dollars I think, and if Mother does not send my hat, I'll ahve to have a new one which will be about four dollars ($4); this term closes in February. We have two weeks vacation, which will be all the vacation we have. I do not now how long a vacation Edd has at Christmas.
I saw Mrs Jim Dra[...] of Cornellsville about a week ago, she was visiting her sister here.
It will soon be time for the supper bell to ring and this is gingerbread day, we have pretty good boarding. Our big for the week is on Wednesday then we have Chichen and a few other extras. There goes the last supper bell and we take our mail down to the table so good night; love to all write soon,
Your loving niece
Gertrude Robbins [about 13 years old][The closing must have been a slip on her part, since she was writing to her father, not an aunt or uncle.]