1865 March 27 to My dearest children

              Second day morn  3. 27.

My dearest children
I have
just come home from school & found yr. letter on the card
plate in the entry, wh. is where they always put them, so we
can be refreshed by the sight the moment we get in, & I was
refreshed I assure you.  Miss Field gets a great many & I
began to feel as if it was quite time for me to be having my
turn too.  You must remember that I never was befor so
entirely among strangers. & that your letters now will be my
best substitutes for home, as I shall depend on them greatly
I tried to write yesterday but did not make out much.  It
was my first 1st day in Baltimore.  Do you remember last 1st
day, when [were] were walking on the piazza & wondering
whether I shd. be here?  I did not much think I shd. then
but it seems I am.  Went to meeting yesterday morn. wh. I
quite enjoyed.  The only faces that I had ever seen before
were Deborah Thomas, Margy Coale & Tammie Miller.  I was
introduced to lots of others who were all very kind, & said
they were coming to see me.  There was a frd. named Elicott
& her two sisters who I think said they knew Mother.  We had
a sermon [fmr.] Deba  Thomas, the Dr, & one or two others. 
After meeting in the aftnoon I set out to take a walk & was
joined by a young lady named Mary Elicott & & Jesse, who
took me a beautiful walk out to whats called the