West Springfield June 6, 1897.My dear Mamie :-
I am going to write to you this week because I have somewhat to say unto you. You can read it to Mama.
In the first place I wish to remind you it is nine years to-morrow since you were married and wish you all joy upon your anniversary. I'm glad you're not one of the kind that is dead set on my getting married. If you were how I should be going against your wishes.
Mama writes me that you are not coming to see me. You might as well finish up the Sundays. Alice Holmes is here to-day and Bertha is coming next week. But if you are not coming I shall really be obliged to ask you to do some things for me. You dont [sic] mind, do you?
In the first place, if you want Lucy in July I wish you would write and ask her. If you dont [sic] want her or dont [sic] feel as though you could, just dont. [sic] But we are going on our tramp sure. Caroline Ransom from Toledo, Lucy, Alice Beede from Worcester and I are dead sure. Fan Abbott from New Jersey will probably come for part of the time. Miss Smith is still a little doubtful but I hope she will go. Abbie is very doubtful likewise Dr. Clapp the Zoölogy Professor. But Abbie nearly took my breath away when she told me that very likely one swell dignified Art teacher would go on her wheel. If she goes I'm afraid that old black dress lining will never do for a petticoat. Supposing we should wish to sit around in our petticoats some hot night and those seams all on the outside!
Now Bertha comes Thursday. She passes through Middleboro on that 7.50 I suppose. Now if you could send the organdie waist (for I want it) and the shirt waist by her it would save express. Then you could send the brilliantine waist by mail. Couldn't you drop her a postal telling her to be looking out for you - to get off the train or something? Her address is Bournedale.
I haventI want you to send too a little piece of grafting-wax. Papa will give you a piece. I need it for Botany - only a little piece.I haven't looked for brilliantine ready-made waists. I think a made one would be better. I want a black one because I think I could wear it afterwards and I couldn't a brown one. Let Hattie cut it as she wants too [sic] - only no line except the yoke. And the collar must be fixed so I wont [sic] have to wear a white one you know. Shall I get the goods or will you? It mustn't meet.
Another thing I want is a bag to carry my things in. It mustn't weight anything and so I have conceived the idea of making a linen one on the same principle as the slipper case Teed gave me - a simple square - with perhaps a pocket or two added. Then I put my duds in the middle fold
thetwo corners over, roll it up and tie a tape around. Why not? It wants to be lined with the same, and the pockets need buttons thats [sic] all. Will you make it, if I send you the stuff? I haven't got time to do it. I shall have to put the pocket on my petticoat I suppose.I want the lawn dress made. Of course you think I dont [sic] need it but I didn't have a new light dress all last summer. Then I shall never feel justified in buying me a new one until that is used up. You said you would make it if Hattie would cut it. Let her make it as she cho[o]ses and she can get what she wants for it only it mustn't be fussy.
I will book Tuesday for the brilliantine waist and let you know right away. We start on the tramp the 28th. Graduation here is the 25th. We have no school that day.
Ask Hattie what I shall have my Leghorn trimmed with.
What do you think about my getting a dress-suit case? I haven't a thing to go up to College in for Commencement. I shall never be satisfied until I get one and I can have it always. And too I don't see why I couldn't sometimes come home in it for short vacations and thus save [on] transfers and expresses. It costs $1.50 for me to take a trunk from here home and back. I shall get the biggest one I can so it'll hold as much as possible. Get Doc to see what he can get me in Boston for - not one of those awfully yellow ones but a brown or greenish one.
Alice has suggested that I get a black jacket - an Eton - to go with my black and white skirt and call that my suit. But I dont [sic] think the skirt is worth it - do you?
Alice came Friday night. yesterday we arose at an unreasonable hour and got up to College in time for Chapel in the morning. We staid all did [sic] and literally did the place. We went to Mary Brigham Hall to dinner. Its [sic] not much like the old dining-hall. I was very happy beside Miss Purington. We called on every body so far as we could and I did things I've tried to do for a long time.
It rained last Monday so that spoiled my nice little plan to take Carrie to the Gorge. We staid down here all the morning.
Now you write to Bertha wont [sic] you if you can get the things ready.
Your terrible sister Nell.