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[written] p. 15 10

[typed] Gertrudes, San Jose
May 29 - '96

My dearest Nannie--

I have a letter started to you telling all about the gayety of
commencement week, but is is packed and I will finish is as soon as
I can get at it, for the present I'll drop you a line to let you
know that last night Theodora and I came down to spend the time with
Gertrude till we can go home Monday. Our place looks beautiful, but
needs a little weeding, and the screen doors painted. It will be
so heavenly to be there again, I can scarcely wait till Monday. The
Campbells are going to have everything, Monday noon as clean as
possible without taking up the carpets. As far as we can tell yet
they have been very good tenants. Packing was a diabolical business,
with all the things we had. The books and everything that I shall
need next year we stored in the dress-box and left in the room. The
rest went into the three trunks and two telescopes and Charles is
going to drive down to get them & bring them up to the house as soon
as we want them. The bookshelves, tea-table, screen, reading stand,
etc. we locked up in one of the closets that was at our disposal
for the summer. Mr. Herme presented me with a flourishing house-palm
that we brought up with us to make the house look pretty. We are
resting in these transition days--Theodora putting on a binding to
her everyday skirt, and I writing up the letters I owe. Last evening
Miss McKimmon drove up with dear old Punch and the phaeton with a
fresh coat of paint. Just imagine it! Did you ever hear of such a
generous noble woman. It is her way of paying for the use of Punch
and the buggy, of course we shall have him and the phaeton as good
as new, through the summer, though we haven't quite planned yet how
we shall keep him. This morning we drove around and engaged Mrs.Gay
to come and wash all our heaps of soiled clothes that we brought up
from Stanford. Next Tuesday. Mrs. Mann has moved into a pretty flat
on N.First street, but has been very ill, though is better now, I
Believe. After dinner I am going down to inquire about her. This
morning we got quanities of exquisite pink sweet peas and pale lavendar
ones from Gertrude's memorial exercises at school, and took them out
to the cemetary, making it look more beautiful than I ever saw it.
Mamma's and Papa's places we put great bouquets & crosses of the pink,
and grandma's & the children's of the lavendar. We came home rested
& at peace with all mankind, and with an enormous appetite too.
Everything tastes very good here at Mrs. MacWilliams. Next week
we will be making soda biscuits ourselves, Louise and the children
come down Tuesday which we think is a very good plan. As dinner is
not yet ready and I have extra page I better not wait for the chance
of finding my other letter but tell you about Commencement. Friday
afternoon (21st May) I cut ice cream at a pretty red trimmed table
for the president's reception to the seniors and faculty. I wore
my little party dress with laceguimpe & white ribbon collar and red
roses. Each table had a certain color--pink or yellow or red, and each
set of girls wore corresponding colors. The reception was very pretty
& I had a beautiful time with Prof, & Mrs. Anderson, & cribbing ice-
cream for the girls that didn't have the luck I had. Mrs. Anderson
looked prettier and better than I ever saw her before. I called
little Robert in & stuffed him with ice-cream & cake. In the evening
Miriam Maclaren and I called at Prof, & Mrs. Powers and we had a
most delightful, inspiring time. Saturday morning was the faculty-
senior baseball game. Mrs. Myrick came down for it, and Mr. Brunton
came over for me to go; he is the champion track athlete, &