Foster School, Clifton Springs, Ontario Co, New - York Nov. 7th. 1883. My Dear Sister, Last night I wakened with no sense that Valeria’s waiting was over, and that she had a little boy. I wonder if that is true, or whether it was only the effects of thinking about it, after receiving thy letter. At any rate I hope is is true and that all will be well with her. I was very glad to hear of Emily’s safe arrival. In these times of storms and wrecks and loss of life, it is a great comfort to know she at least is secure. I felt a good deal provoked at Miss [Schnelling?] for asking Annie to do her [work?]. I thought it downright insolence. Such a person ought to have Abby woolman to deal with or Mrs. Jones, either. As to thy charge being too high, Abby Woolman charges to transient [binders?] 25 [cents] on meals and 25 [cents] for lodging Making one dollar a day. That is understood to be a house which does not pay for itself but is sustained by Friends. I think Mrs. [Stuber?] would charge that much for transient boarders who should occupy my room where the rent is paid for. I told her if any of my friends should want to use it for a stopping place when in the city, to allow them to do so, making her my charges for her humble of keeping the room in order, washing the sheets &c. &c. If I remember rightly that was what she thought of charging. If you take the schnelling back again, if I were [Nannie?], I would see to it that [Miss Sn?] kept her own room in order or else paid somebody for doing it. I think it extraordinarily mean to object to proper charges, and insulting to ask Annie to wait on her without. She is able to pay for it handsomely. Miss Watkins, who knows how to take care of her own interests admirably, quoted a sentence to me which I thought with remembering – she said “The self-sustained are the sustainers.” Possibly she did not mean me to remember it, but I do, and think it useful as all in coming in contact with selfish people. How nice it is for Charlie and [Linnae?] to be able to take the children out walking. I have no doubt it will be as much pleasure to them as it is to dear little Nellie and Mollie's lovely little one. I had a lovely letter yesterday from cousin Susan. She said she had something to write for some friends in Chicago relative to the [ranking?] of their schools but that it seemed no tasks to her to do that, because she did not like to write on that subject, preferring people to come and see themselves; And that before she undertook it, she intended to gratify herself by writing to Joshua, Ben and me. She succeeded gratifying me at any rate. Cousin Adie is there – has been for two weeks, and is, she thinks well again. She is occupying a cottage of five nice rooms which they have rented and furnished as a Kindergarten. It is about two squares off and, Adie goes to cousin Sue’s house for meals and lodging, so that she must be able to walk without crutches. After a time, when they have a companion for her. Adie will lodge at her own cottage. Cousin S. tells of the success and beauty of her plants, roses, verbenas and heliotropes – the latter of which had only the night before being killed down into parts. Here, many thing tender has been housed for quite a while: We had our first snow a few days ago, but After the beginning of November. It soon melted and the weather is almost uncomfortably warm for winter clothing and well warmed houses. I have to keep my window open day and night. This is good for the plants I have in my room and they thrive wonderfully. I try to get them watered every morning before breakfast. In addition to what she had sent before, Mrs. Foster sent her gardener once with a large and beautiful fern, a lemon verbena and several other plants including two geraniums just coming into blooms. She really is a most remarkable woman in thinking how to give pleasure to others – that seems to be her business in life. She has discovered that I like flowers so she sends me these, but she is just as thoughtful of others in ways in which she can give pleasure to them – for instance, Miss Nesmith whose room is next to mine has charge of the department of literature, and to her [left page] Mrs. Foster sends for her to look once, the most exquisitely illustrated books, such as would be entirely beyond the means of the school library to possess. Of there, I get the benefit, as Miss Nesmith does of my plants. Indeed all the school enjoy my flowers, borrowing them for occasions, so that I feel a double pleasure in them. The past week has been a very hard one. It was a six-week examination I gave 12 questions in each [?] making 36 in all, and then have [read?] to read and correct all the answers. Two of my classes, about 34 girls and all had there questions to answer so that it made over a hundred papers to read and connect. These papers go before the Board of Council that they may understand something of the progress of he School. As it has taken all of my [right page] spare time for several days, I am very sure the Council will have to judge of the whole by a specimen from the heap – they simply cannot examine them. If they did, the probability is that not more than one or three would know whether they were correct or not. [Mrs. MacMiller?] is one of the Board. I am very sure she would not know anything about it. [Dr. Lewis?] and Mrs. Foster would, and, possibly, there are others of the same stamps. I am very much gratified with the spirit in which the girls themselves have responded. On the whole, they have done their very best, and they all seem to see that is an excellent method of receiving their studies, and to accept it as a measure working for their goods although it does entail hard work on them as well as on me. Miss Watkins does not think it a good plan, but I know it is. She prefers questioning without any preparation and without any opportunity for consulting authorities. Mine has been a real study in which they have fastened every point clearly in the memory, and are ready to go on for the next six weeks, being sure of their footing. & I have learned the capacity of each girl. By her plan she only ascertains how much each girl is able to remember for six weeks. I think there will be no such clashing as she seems willing now, to allow me to do so as I think for the best interest of my classes. At any rate [Dr. Lewis?] put the Department into my hands to do so as I pleased and therefore I feel entirely at liberty. I enjoy very Much the companionships of the teachers, but as the days come round for thy letters I find myself very anxiously awaiting them – still I intended last time to say when thee needs rest instead do not unite. A day longer to wait is not much, and a letter when thee is over tired, may be the feather two much– so I would really feel more comfortable if thee should sleep instead. My thoughts go back daily and humbly to you all, of all the [crosshatched text along left side of page] families. I am going to write to cousin S. to day too. Have nothing else to do to day but to take a walk out in the bright warm sunshine. Love very dearly to you all & [dear?] kisses to Mollie's children and dear little Nellie. Ever thy loving sister Gracie.