File:Annie R. Dawson to Alice Mary Longfellow, 5 October 1890 (3f76a2d9-7daf-496a-96b7-778567b97d84).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1007.001/002.003-001#031

[printed letterhead: Santee Normal Training School, American Missionary Association. Santee Agency, Nebraska]
Oct. 5, 1890.
My dear Miss Longfellow.
You see from the heading that I have come West and am teaching in the mission school established twenty years ago, by the American Missionary Association.
Reached here the last of August & began my school work the first day of September. I am teaching in the Primary School with a Miss Lenard who is a Bridgewater Normal graduate. She is a very lovely lady, makes a splendid teacher and I like her very much. Enjoy my work a great deal & loved my children the more I became acquainted with them.
We began school with 35 pupils but on account of so many new ones coming we had to send our two highest classes into another grade. We have now 25 children in our room; most of which are new ones and do not know a word of English.
[p. 2] We expect more new ones soon. With the pupils in the other grades, we have 79 scholars on the place.
Enjoy being here very much and have not been lonesome or home-sick for the East as I feared I should. My work I also enjoy a great deal and am glad to begin the work I have longed to do, so many years.
The climate & air are delightfully dry & bracing. Have been in perfect health since I came & have been steadily gaining in flesh.
The school has a pretty location on & among hills. Enjoy, with some of the others [s struck out] teachers, in exploring the country. Yesterday six of us went to a place 16 miles from here for an outing. Indians call it Miniwastee Falls. Four rode in the buggy while two rode on horseback; though we took turns riding on horse-back. And had my first horse-back ride & enjoyed it ever so much.
I appreciate the opportunity I was so fortunate to have, in going to a Normal School in Mass., more than I ever did. And thank you for the aid you gave me while there more than I can ever express. I remain as ever gratefully,
Annie R. Dawson.

• Keywords: long archives; document; alice m. longfellow papers (long 16173); education; correspondence; subject; Manuscripts (1007.001); (LONG-Subcollection); Correspondence (1007.001/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Scholarship Student Correspondence (1007.001/002.003); (LONG-SubseriesName); Letters to Alice Longfellow (1007.001/002.003-001); (LONG-FileUnitName)