Betsy Mix Cowles Letter to Sister Regarding Education for Women

              My Own Dear Sister 
After waiting & waiting & waiting 
& waiting for a letter from you; I have decided to wait no lon- 
ger. But first give an account of thyself; why hast thou not 
written to me? Is it because I am Oberlin? The ties of nature 
are too Strong to be Severed by So trifling an offence. Cousin 
Sally has written to me notwithstanding this crime. Oh! 
my dear Sister I have felt for a few days past; I could fly 
almost for the Sake of getting home & finding you there. 
I cannot express how much I want to see you & "our 
folks;" home's joys never appeared half So dear; & when will 
we together taste them, when, oh! when? Are you coming 
home this fall? if not why do you Stay? for what purpose 
I know if you are at all like me; you will enjoy yourself 
with brother & Helen well; & if out of the world so much the 
better. For my part I am glad occasionally to get one side of 
the world; & then think out at the rest of the world. 
Well of all places where I was happiest upon the 
whole; Catskill was the place; & now I wish that I could 
spend the time again. give my very best love to my dear 
dear cousins all of them & Aunt Root Oh! How I would love 
to see them once again.   Will you know that Sarah & I 
are perched at Oberlin & a very good perch it is upon the 
whole; I do not come into every thing yet, but I think 
there are many excellent things, & I like Staying well. I wish 
I was younger & I would Stay five years at least. Cornelia 
I think it most lamentable that your mind is not dis 
ciplined by Study; because nature has endowed you 
with abilities enough; & had they been improved as they 
Should be; you would be far happier & better. You would