[Talcott, Easton, Nov. 26, 1852, page 1]

I hear by quite an indirect way that you are homesick at Hadley. I would fain console you, for I know well by experience the horrors of that disease.

I fear too, that my friend is not as well pleased with Holyoke Sem, as I had hoped she would be.

I cannot imagine what one can find really to dislike on sober thought, for to me the system there pursued seemed as nearly perfect as one can be. The inconveniences necessarily attending there could not be well avoided. I know of no place of in-

[end of page 1]

[Talcott, Easton, Nov. 26, 1852, page 2 & 3]

-struction so well adapted to give one a good thorough education as that pursued at Hadley. But I trust it is not so with you, but that you dearly love your new home.

For one other thing do I think that Institution should be most highly prized, and that is its religious privileges. In that respect it is far superior to any other Seminary in the country. Such are the influences there thrown around the pupil, that it does not seem possible that one can resist them. There are many who have learned 'the better way' within those hallowed walls, and have gone out from there, with hearts devoted to the service of Christ, and vast, vast is the influence they are now exerting in this world of ours. They seem to me like a band of sisters scattered here and there over this wide earth.

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I am anxious to hear of your likes and dislikes at the Sem. Do write and tell me all about it. Who you room with, and where? How you succeeded in your examinations & What you are studying, whose section you are in. Whose table you sit at. Who are your favorite teachers. Of you domestic work &tc, &tc. Everything about the Sem will be interesting to me. Do you not like Miss Phinney as teacher? How I should love to be at the Sem if just for a few minutes,that I might have one peep at you all. Do you not love Miss Spofford, Miss Jessup, Miss Chapin, Miss Johnson and Miss Scott. How do those long walks agree with you?

I must write no more now. This I enclose in a letter to Mary Phinney. Perhpas you can write and send in the same way. Maria sends love to you.

From your true friend,

Mary McLeames

[Talcott, Easton, Nov. 26, 1852, page 4]

P.S. One other thought. It seems to me that there is scarcely any place where a Christian can better grow in grace,and in knowledge of Christ than at Hadley. For there we are in a measure excluded from the world, and can the better keep our thought fixed on proper objects, our Heavenly Father assisting us.

M.

[Addressed to:] Miss Sarah G. Talcott
Mt. Holyoke Fem. Sem.
South Hadley,
Mass

[Talcott, Wetherfield, Mar. 2, 1853, page 1]

Wethersfield March 2, 1853

My Dear Sarah,
After an unpardonably protracted silence I am extremely happy to do myself the pleasure of answering your truly esteemed and very acceptable epistle of Dec. 10th. And now, the only apology I can offer for my seeming negligence is a severe, debilitating, protracted illness; which has unfitted me a long, long time for writing - in fact brought me so low, that I have done nothing for many months - I am still quite feeble - not able to ride or walk or attend to any kind of employment - in short - good for nothing - useless - useless!

Could you my very dear friend, only know how happy I should have been to have written to you before, and how many times I commenced writing, and by weakness was compelled to abandon the attempt, you surely would give me a long mark of credit, for the will to do what I had not the power to accomplish.

Oh how immeasureably rejoiced I was to receive that dear, nice little paper visit from you. It was like a sun beam in a dark day. And how my heart was gladdened to know you were so pleasantly and so advantageously situated in your "Mountain Home". Ah I though it would be so - I know you had the mind to appreciate the right and best method of school life; and that you would both from your own sense of propriety, as well as to have the approbation of Him, whom you profess to love, strive to obey all the rules and regulations - and with cheerful alacrity, perform the manifold, though necessary duties of your "Mountain Institute."

And the dreadful rather dreaded ordeal of entrance examination, you passed through without a faint or even flush. Not at all strange however for you. I anticipated as much. And you were not appalled by a practical introduction to the Domestic Department! That ungenteel, unmentionable place of servitude! - from which so many

[Talcott, Wetherfield, Mar. 2, 1853, page 3]

be your good example to those about you. For thereby you manifest your wish and willingness to do quickly and thoroughly "whatsoever your hand findeth to do." Thus - your present employment, though very simple in itself, if rightly improved, teaches alacrity, thoroughness, obedience and economy. By thoroughness my dear Sarah, I mean the doing of everything as well as it can be done: in a manner above criticism. Then we can feel a happy consciousness in having done our whole duty, as far as it is within our own power.

And so, for a little time you were afflicted with that dreadful school girl malady, homesickness! Poor Child! I thought it would be so - I was with you even then , in imagination; (for you must know that mothers follow their absent ones in thought). Yes and I saw you too, when you so reluctantly made adieus, and farewells to to the dear ones at home, and with your kind father, start for a temporary sojourn in the old Bay State. It was on one of those superb days in the pleasantest part of October - that painted month - when nature is robing herself in her most beautiful attire - when the eye of the delighted beholder wanders from object to object until charmed - enchanted - yea - almost surfeited with excess of beauty. And all along the silvery, sparkling Connecticut, as it winds among the hills and valleys, how exquisitely charming the scenery - how suggestive of bright thoughts and beautiful idea! and how many pages might be occupied in its description - Here is a little fairy dell, enclosed on one side by - but, I must not write it because I shall only tell what I saw, - not what you saw. For it is quite possible. that your eye did not note the minutie on that memorable day. If I recollect right, when the snorting steam horse was let loose, dancing merrily and rapidly Northward, every moment bearing you farther and farther from loved scenes and beloved friends, your heart did not exactly respond to the lively tune of "O'er the hills and far away," but was rather in unison with something slower; and your thought, more majestic - more appropriate - some

[Talcott, Wetherfield, Mar. 2, 1853, page 4]

metre perhaps, similar to that old song, ending with those quaint words - "home, sweet home, there is no place " &tc. Occasionally, your mind's eye was cast Northward among the Mountains, and caught shadowy glimpses of a certain spacious building occupied by a numerous family of females, - then upon the probable result of being taken into one those inconceivable apartments, where teachers with microscopic eyes look directly through young ladies heads, discovering at the first glance, every thing they dont know, but not one thing that they do know.. But soon - ah too soon - imagination became reality, and you were at the door of the great house - ushered into the great parlor, introduced and seated. There sat one or more Teachers with busy frame and smillng face, looking kindness and benevolence to all, but no time to speak a word to any. There too, were numerous pupils both old and new. The former enter with happy face, buoyant step and familiar home-like manner. Among the latter, were many genteel, self-possessed young ladies, still the place was new to them - they seemed diffident and hesitating - hardly knowing whether it would be best to sit or stand - Others, who probably were away from home for the very first time evidently did not understand the most approved method of doing either. Then there were those who came because they had heard of Mt. Holyoke; and thought it would be a "pretty, because cheap place to go to school." They had had Catalogues to be sure, but received them we suppose as mementoes of gratitude from the Principal, for the honor conferred upon the Institution by their application* [in margin*Applications being in that region scarce)] Or perhaps they took them to be kind of admittance tickets, which when presented at the door would give them free passport into the classess without even (in the usual way) being called upon to pay the examination fee. So they laid aside the Catalogues as Keepsakes but never once thought of reading them and regarding them as guides to a preparation for the very thorough Mt. H. Seminary. Therefore, when