RK-318

School. My room. May 19^th /57.

Cousin Bob.

I shall continue to call you; though Professor perhaps should be your title. Familiar names I always love to call my friends; and I like to be Miss to none but those whom I cannot call so. On this nineteenth day of May I am in quite a happy frame of mind; having entirely recovered from a dangerous attack of the blues; with which I was miserable last week. I know you are laughing now. You think its all a notion my having the bulues. No-one thinks I have any reason for it; and I think myself it is almost wicked to give way to such feelings. But in consequence of riding out to Hamburg Sunday my music lesson was not well learned; and though I tried to feel satisfied with myself I could not.

I can sympathise with you; way down in “Lower Egypt” suffering with the rheumatism. For the first time in years I was obliged to stay at home for two days. They said

[page turned written on left side] my rattlesnake skin the other night. I shall not have a chance to frighten the girls any more. Dont be so long in writing again. Much love from Maria.

I had fever and ague. At all events I was sick enough to convince me that it was not at all agreeable; and I immediately made a resolve never to do so again. My dear cousin Bob for what reason should I keep father’s books? Has he not two boys in the store with him? and besides do you think I could spend time enough for it? It is all and more than I can do now after my school duties are performed, to practice my music lessons, besides which I must devote some time to reading; and must necessarrily do some sewing; though I think we are too apt to consider all time spent at with the needle as improved in the best manner.

I really did not imagine that beings of so low an order resided within the limits of he United States. It does one good; or at least makes them appreciate their own advantages better to visit those who are so much worse a condition. Your experience in regard to the conveniences for sleeping corresponds with that of Dr. Kane when among Icelanders. I hope the people with whom you stay are not quite so dirty however. He said some of his men

caught one of the natives and washed him. He was ashamed to go back among his comrads for fear of being laughed at. Dr. K- says they never wash themselves. I should not I think care to stay long with such a race. You have been so much away from home that I should consider you proof against homesickness; though I was always troubled with the disease myself.

Rodolph and Johnny are both in the store with father. Ro-’s 21^st birthday was on the tenth. Father presented him with a fine gold watch worth $125. Mother & I made him a present of ruffled shirts gold studs & sleevebuttons so that the girl told him she thought he had quite enough for one time. Johnny is quite a man. He is taller than Rodolph. You would hardly know him. You ask me to talk of my school. It has changed very little. I am in the same room; have had it newly painted & cleaned so that it looks very cheerful. I get tired sometimes; and wish that I could stay home a day; but on the whole it is very pleasant for me. I have told you what I am doing. I go out very little

over to Jenny’s ^{[illegible] that used to be} once in a while. She & her husband & brother come in and spend the evening playing whist or dancing. Jenny plays the piano well. We have a good deal of company evenings. I get very little time for reading. I am now reading Macauly’s History of England; and like it very much. He is not confined to the ordinary limits of a historian; but while telling of battles & sieges; kings & queens; gives us also an insight into their government & the motives which governed their conduct. He gives the condi= tion of the people as contrasted with their condition now; their conveniences for traveling & even how their houses were furnished; without at the same time being tedus tedius. I am afraid were I to tell you all I am thinking you would be sorry you had asked me the question; I fear too it would be a queer con mixture of the sublime & ridiculous the sad & merry. No person ever tells all they think. Though we perhaps do not like to acknowl= ede there is we would be ashamed to tell of what we think. Not but that our thoughts are pure enough; but there are many things which we do not like to acknowledge even to ourselves. Shant get any bugs. The dog destroyed