May 5th, 1860

Dear Lydia,

I have just closed a letter to Mrs. Sargent and so feel somewhat in the mood for writing and although I only received your letter yesterday mailed from home I feel quite certain I shall not be able to pen you even a short letter before next Saturday - and I have much to say to you dear Lydia so I will commence today at any rate -- Where or from where do you think I am penning you these lines? - You could not guess in a week (?) I do not believe

Lyd, when I was in Manchester

[end of page 1; writing in margin transcribed at end of page 4]

[Lydia Clark, May 5, 1860 pg. 2]

you said once when one of your neighbors called that I seemed to be thinking of something else - I was - I was asking myself the state of my mind on the subject of teaching - one year ago I talked with Mr Charlton on the subject - then I had taken the idea into my head that I would like to teach - I asked him how I should proceed first in order to obtain such a situation as I would like - He laughed at me of course - considered it a mere scheme &tc - But finding I was in earnest, "why," he said if I really wanted to try a teachers life - I must write to some of my friends who were in the way to do so, to let me know of any

[Lydia Clark, May 5, 1860 pg. 3]

vacancy they might hear of - for instance he said why write to Mr. Farrar, and among others Steine Clarke &tc - &tc. -- Well, the subject was dropped and I did not think much more of it for several weeks when a letter came from Mr. C. in which he said there was just such a situation as I would like for the winter term at Lockport and said that he would keep it open for me four or five weeks - I knew what an advantage I would have in having Mr. Charlton, but Lyd, I could not bring my mind to it, then, in the winter to go so far away and enter upon an untried field; and Father & Mother did not favor my going away then in the winter, anyway. and so I gave

[Lydia Clark, May 5, 1860 pg. 4]

it all up. Well, I thought nothing more about it until about the latter part of March when Mr. C - again wrote me and once again offered me the situation and also forwarded a line from Mr. Atwater the Superintendent of Schools at Lockport - both urging my coming Mr. C because he thought it would be a benefit to me even if I did not teach but a single term - and Mr. Atwater because, through Mr. C's recommendation (!) he wished me to fill the vacancy - Well, I thought about it, Lyd not a little and finally decided to become a "school ma'am" I will not tell you how I had to tease and argue (!) to obtain a willing consent from Father that his lovely daughter Nell should "teach the young ideas how to shoot!" But as usual I succeeded (!) So here I am! You can imagine Lyd, how I felt when starting for (western!) New York with the untried responsibilities of a Teacher looming up at every mile - when I arrived at Boston I had half a mind to turn about! -- But when I got to Springfield I was nearly ready to take my trunk on my shoulder (the big one too) and go to Mrs. Clarkes - but the train went off before I was aware of it, so there was a gone case - to Lockport I must go - and to Lockport I came

[end of page 4; sentence continued on the margin of page 1] conductor screeched Lockport! - I cannot stop to tell you all now - But imagine me, Lyd if you can bringing up the rear of a line of some nine or ten teachers, since I am the youngest - 4 are gentlemen, the rest Ladies -- Oh Lyd you cannot imagine my feelings the first morning "a stranger in a strange land!" and fearful of the task before me - so wholly untried - But I kept up a brave heart and the worst. [end of writing in page 1 margin]

[Lydia Clark, May 5, 1860 pg. 5]

is over - My Recitation room or rather known now as "Miss Spalding's Room" is to the right of the large Senior Desk where the sum of my several classes is one hundred and fifty scholars - I have thirty in several classes. - Oh Lyd, imagine again how formidable to me seemed this rush of human beings at first - My hands trembled as I took up the book and thought of what I was expected to do - I never should have known what or how to do had I have had no one to whom I could speak plainly - But Mr. Charlton was anxious to have me succeed [crossed out 'and'] of course - and he did everything for me for a day or two - speaking of me so respectfully and kindly to the scholars that they at once "looked up" to their little Teacher and showing me what and how to do - It came hard I assure you Lyd, the first week -- I would be so tired and excited that eight o'clock was not early for me to long to retire - But each Saturday Sun finds me - or Mondays I should say, better prepared for the labors of the coming week

I would not have it otherwise - Father - and Mr. Charlton too -- gave me full permission to return when I wished if I became homesick - Father even wrote the first week that if I was at all homesick to tell him and he would come even to Lockport for me. --

[Lydia Clark, May 5, 1860 pg. 6]

But I have such a delightful boarding place or home the latter - homesickness - is almost impossible - I believe I should have become discouraged had I not been so pleasantly located thanks to Mr. Charlton and Mr. Atwaters influence - as to a home - I am in the family of a Physician - there is only one daughter and she is now a warm friend to me - She is a dear girl Lydia, not quite twenty so intelligent, lovely and ladylike - her name is "Mary" - She is very popular and does much to smooth my pathway - I loved her dearly before I had been here a week - she was so kind, so ladylike so good - She seems to be a favorite everywhere - You would like her Lyd -- She has a fine voice and plays almost as well as Carrie. We have fine times singing and are going to learn some Duets to play if we can find the time - She is taking lessons of a German has just commenced on a term - He is a splendid Teacher I think - [crossed out "Dr. Fasset"] There is a medical student of the Dr.s - and also a Dr. Kittenger a young man but a partner of Dr. Fassetts who has lately returned from Europe -- This week another young lady a niece who is to attend school and also a young man, and her son who has been in California but is at home on a visit are expected from the West - Shall we not have a merry time Lyd such a "lot" of us. -- Dr. K. - has a fine horse and Dr. Fassett has

[Lydia Clark, May 5, 1860 pg. 7]

[section of letter discussing horseriding is not transcribed]

With regard to my boarding place I tell you Lyd I am a fortunate mortal Now once more for the school - I have to study hard in order to sustain myself, but I think I shall although I doubted it at first. I have a class just finishing Arithmetic two in Intellectual Arithmetic, one in U.S. History - one larger class in Grammar, one in Reading and one in English Composition (a class of some thirty young ladies - many of them looming far above myself in height(!) -- These classes come every day and you may be assured I know well by this time what it is to be tired - Last evening it was a luxurious thought that "tomorrow is Saturday" Saturday & Sunday of rest - The course I have chosen for this summer Lyd has its trials - great ones to one who has had all her powers so little taxed as I have - But I feel

[Lydia Clark, May 5, 1860 pg. 8]

now as from the first it will be a life long benefit and I will not falter -- I am becoming acquainted with the teachers and scholars more every day - and there are some fine young men and ladies --

Mon Eve - Well Lyd. another day is drawing to its close - I do not feel at all warm although it has been a warm day - But with all its labor I am enjoying my teachers life - I shall learn to love many of my pupils very dearly - and I hope to win their affections - One dear girl came to class this afternoon and laid a boquet of beautiful flowers on my table - That one act I believe more than all else made me realize that I was indeed a teacher another came to me in tears and putting her hand in mine said "Miss Spalding I do feel ashamed of the way in which I recite History" - (For two days she had had little or no recitation for the reason she said she had not had time to prepare any) Her eyes were filling and I felt somewhat moved

But my sheet is almost full - I have told you much dear Lydia now about myself - for I long to have your sympathy and to hear from you [continued in margin] so write soon and direct care of D. S. Fassett M.D. Lockport, N. Y.

[in margin of page 2] P.S. I told Mr Charlton today I was going to write to you and he said give my kind regards and tell her Miss Spalding is going to make a pretty smart "school-m'am" on of these days! -- So much!

[on margin of page 3] Dear Lydia - this I ask of You do not mention to anyone ([unclear word Steine], of course) that I am here or that I am teaching please do not - Lydia - as I write this in privacy

[in margin of page 4] Write soon as I shall have much to tell you if you do