Mattie Walden to Alice Mary Longfellow, 16 March 1898
Manuscript letter
[printed letterhead: Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute]
Hampton, Va., Mar, 16, 1898.
Kind Friend,-
It gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to write you a letter thanking you for the money which you have given to pay my schooling. I am sure to will never be able to thank you enough.
Before I came here I attended a normal school at my home, but hearing of this school through my [p. 2] teacher, which was a graduate from here, I was very anxious to come. I wanted to learn a trade any way, and I could not at home. I also have three uncles attended this school.
My home is at Winton, N.C. a small village, the house in which I live is situated on the corner of main street. My father is a carpenter. Mamma attends to the house work. I have six sisters, three of them are married one of the single ones is teaching, one home, and one stays with my [p. 3] oldest sister.
I am eighteen years old and have been trying to live a christian life for seven years.
I like here very very well. I have a very kind teacher, and I try to do what I can to please her. Much to my regret I have been out of school for the last few weeks on the account of my mother's illness, but I am glad to say she is much better now, and I [p. 4] am able to be in school again. I attend night school from seven until nine. I studie geography, arithmatic, and science.
I work in the laundry, but I like very well indeed my work is not very hard I work at a machine where all of the bed clothes, hand-kerchives, and towels are Ironed.
I will thank you again for being so very kind to help me through my struggle, for I am very anxious, to get an education, and learn a trade so I may be able [p. 5] some day to go out into the world, and help others.
Your friend,
Mattie D. Walden.
Archives Number: 1007.001/002.003-001#082
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Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Code: LONG
Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938