Allabach correspondence

Professor Earl Barnes gives the address, his subject being "The Child's Religion". There are besides, Sunday classes for Bible study and a Sunday evening meeting. There is also an association for organized Christian work under whose auspices are held Wednesday evening prayer meetings.

I have been to Mayfield and shall probably go occasionally in the evening as many of the girls like to help out the minister who was a former teacher of theirs and they feel that he needs help in the young peoples work.

I have had callers but once and then four boys were here on Hallo'e'en and they called on the other girls also, so don't worry about my Sundays or Callers as yet. It usually takes a good part of the day to write home. The girls are very pleasant and the nicest have been very kind to us and Mattie Haven who lives in Oakland was so disappointed that we were going home with Elsie Shelley for Thanksgiving as she wanted us herself. She is quite well acquainted with Mrs. M'Cords friends, Mrs. Parcell and her sons.

Last evening one of the girls from Sacremento had an elegant big cake sent her and she had a dozen girls in to help eat it and I never tested better. We get together in this way quite often for the purppose of devouring a jar of jam or cookies that some girl has brought from home.

I fixed my suit this morning and I've done some seweing nearly every Saturday morning and I'm tired of it. I shant fix my blue dress till next spring. I wore my brown dress Friday evening. Miss Leach is gone you know and I'm not in love with Mrs. Richardson but can stand her if no one else comes through some one from the East is expected. It is time I was in my little bed so with much love to you and Papa, I am you

Lucy Allabach

________________o__________________

Roble Hall November 15, 1891

Dear Helen:

I received your letter with the check for package enclosed but we have not gotten the package as yet so I will write Mama when we have it. We are very anxious for it as it seems so nice to get something from home.

I don't remember of anything happening before Friday this week. Very little does happen. Most of us peg away hard till Friday evening then there seems to be something else to do and we finish our study Saturday morning. We girls have an organization of our own and we bring up all questions concerning ourselves before it and vote on what shall be done.

Last Monday we decided to set the second Friday evening of each month as our at home evening and when we have anything special it will be on that evening; otherwise we shall just receive the students and faculty informally. This Friday, however, some of us went elsewhere. There was an entertainment and supper given at the church in Mayfield and many had decided to go before our cards came out. The girls thought enough would be left at home to receive if those who cared to went to Mayfield. At first I thought I would stay but some of the boys who are friends of Mattie Haven, Elsie Shelly, Clara Avery, Edith Wilcox and others of the girls whom we know to be nice grisl asked some of them and us to go, so we went. I went with Mr. Gruell, accent on the last syllable, and Minnie with Mr. Whittier who wears glasses but is a very nice young man. My escort is nice enough but rather silly and not very attractive to me. Professor Thoburn, he is both Rev. and Prof., was a professor of most of these people at the U.P. of San Jose last year, so they wanted to help him out as well as go for the fun.

The moon was lovely and the entertainment rather cute. Little boys and girls dressed as old people, sang songs like Reuben & Rachel, etc., and looked quite cute. A number of college students sang some college songs and there were some other solos.

Then we adjourned to the supper room where the tables were laden with cakes, pink ham, tongue, cold turkey and chicken, jelly, pickles, pie, head salad, grapes, nuts, etc. To us who have been fed on Chinese cooked food, you cannot imagine the feelings aroused. We stowed away all we could in our bread baskets and laughed at each other. My young man and I managed to spill a cup of coffee on ourselves. He jumped as though it burned him but I did not feel it and as I had on my blue dress it did not hurt anything. Then after a long walk home through dust several inches deep we went to bed and to sleep.

Yesterday morning just as soon as our room was brushed up, without doing any mending or anything, I began to study and continued till lunch time.

An invitation had been sent us to attend a base ball game between the faculty and seniors; so promptly at two o'clock we were seated on benches, observing the game. It was played just back of Encina Hall. The seniors looked like any college boys, ready for ball; but to see our dignified, portly president, whose shoulders are above ordinary peoples head, clad in a rusty suit and slouch hat and throwing and batting balls, you could have done nothing but laugh. Professor Swain, the professor of Mathematics, though very

tall, and undoubtedly possessed of an active brain, could not move rapidly enough to make bases and though he was usually sprawling in the dust some where near the base was put out just the same. Professor Howard who terrifies us in history, looked anything but dignified in soft hat and flannel shirt but his balls confused the boys even as his questions in history do. Little Mr. Newcomer whose mind alone wins respect did well ut neverthe;ess the seniors won with the score five to twelve. I really shouted with the rest, it was so funny.

The same boys who were with us Friday were near us yesterday afternoon as were the same girls and the boys brought grapes and apples of a passing fruit man.

Then the sequel came last night in the shape of a moonligh ride. The senior boys, some of them wish to celebrate, and came over and put the question to Mrs. Richardson. As she saw no objection they asked twelve of us girls to go in the Palo Alto bus, which seats twelve on a side, most of the boys were unknown to the girls but as they were the best of the senior class and going in a crowd that way no one demurred. I went with the President of our Christian organization so was in good company as I had met him before and he is from Illinois.