Viola [Allen?] to Katherine Fletcher, 1888 May 26
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You do not know how glad I was to hear from you. I had thought of you many times and thought that I would write but I have had no time to write letters.
My father has been very sick with the Pneumonia for seven weeks. He is beginning to gain a little though it is very slowly.
There was a while the Dr. thought he could not get well, but we are in hopes if
he does not take cold that he may
get well, though the Dr. said to day
that it would be a good while before he was out of danger.
You do not know how hard it was for me to think of having our dear papa taken from us yet I felt as though I must be willing to submit to God's will whatever it might be. I trust and pray that he may be spared to us if it be God's will.
Then you are really school-marm Well so am I.
I am teaching the village school have twenty-four scholars; mostly small ones. It
is a very pleasant school and I am enjoying it very much. The greatest trouble I
do not have half the time I want.
You wanted to know if I manged to
get out at four o'clock I cannot to save me I generally get out just quarter
past four. My oldest scholar is sixteen. I have a very fine boarding place.
Well it is eleven o'clock and I must retire, I guess you will find many mistakes in this for I am watching with papa and have to stop every few minutes to do something for him.
My brother came home last night he is going to watch the rest of the night
June 3.
Well Kate I did calculate to have finished this letter before this time but have
had no time. Last week I had to copy some pieces for the children to speak
children's Day. I have been to church to day. Papa has not gained any
for the last two weeks. The Dr. was most discouraged to day. He said he was
afraid tubercles were forming in his lung. He wanted to have another Dr. examine
him.
Cora was at home over two weeks when papa was the worst; and she came home a week ago last Friday, Effie Patterson was going home
and so Cora came with her she went back Sunday night Frank Holmes, he was up to
see Miss Simmonds. Kate I had forgotten all about sending my note book to you. I
will send it this week.
You need not fret about returning it though I
should like it as soon as you get them copied. Cora and Nell are getting along
nicely Cora has her essay finished They have marked a hundred in every review in
Arithmetic. Cora has not marked below ninety in any review.
Have you got one of Miss. Oak's pictures? She sent me one it looks just exactly like her. You don't know how much I enjoy looking at my pictures. I guess I do think more of my class pictures than I do my certificate.
What do you have for morning exercises? I don't know what to have to make it
most
interesting. Monday morning we all have a verse; last week we
had one that had the word love in it, this week we are going to have one
containing the word blessed. Other mornings we read part of a chapter, we read
around each one a verse, of course the youngest cannot read. Then we all say the
Lords Prayer. My first class in arithmetic has only one in it, she is in Ratio
and Proportion now, I think she will go through the book. My second class is
going to begin in Interest to morrow. I am lotting on teaching it to them. I
gave them a review yes Friday on the different cases in Percentage,
Profit & Loss, and Commission. They did quite well I thought. The
highest marked 94. The others all but
one marked over eighty
Which do you enjoy teaching best the arithmetic or Geography and English? Of course I enjoy the arithmetic best because that is my favorite study, though I enjoy teaching Grammar very much.
Don't you think the Physialogues are real good books? I like them very much.
Do your scholars bother you about whispering? Mine have not at all. I told them the first day I did not want them to and they do not.
I got a letter from Lou a few weeks ago. She seems to be enjoying herself well.
O, Kate I want to ask a favor of you, I want a little piece of your graduating
dress very much, I want to get a piece of
all the girls dress in our
class to put in a crazy quilt. I won't ask for only a scrap. I will send you a
piece of mine, though you may not care for it but you can it in
the paper rags if you do not. You don't know how bad it makes me feel to think
how our dear old class is separated. I do wish we could all meet again at the
old Normal. I want very much to go down at the close of school but do not know
as I can. I have not heard from many of our class I meant to write to them
before long. Is Jen teaching near home?
Well I guess I have scratched all you will care to read this time. Forgive me for not answering this your kind letter before, and you try and do better than I did. Hoping to hear from you soon I remain
your true friendViola D.
Viola Allen