Fragment of cross-written letter and envelope from Prudence Nightingale (nee Hackworth) to Jane Young (nee Hackworth)

I am surprised to find that you are required to pay for your drawing materials. How very annoying to be obliged to guard your property as you have to do! How contemptibly mean of any one to make themselves thieves for such trifling things as crayons. Pray don’t think that I consider it less mean to steal a larger amount! I could not help laughing when I read the description of your balldress. I think you must becoming quite ingenious. You indeed improve on Miss Davis’s ready conversions of a thing into another use than the one for which it was originally intended . Had I known that your ball was to occur so soon, I should have written to Madame to request her to procure you a clean muslin dress. I, however, have no doubt that in the dress you sported with its various appendages, you looked very nice. I too have got a steek buckle which I wear with my watered band. When you next write to me, perhaps you will send a small note for Miss H. Smith, without date on it, which I will keep by me and hand to her on the 13th of next month, the anniversary of the day of her birth. I have bought her an album like the one you presented to Miss Gee.
Is Madame still kind and considerate to you. Mr Gladdens is in town today. I am as sanguine as ever about our quarterage. Be of good courage. I trust you and I shall have much enjoyment together when you return to England and in the interim, picture our whole family in the midst of everything desireable to render life happy and comfortable; and that your lot may be agreeable in every sense of the word until we meet is the sincere prayer of your most ardetly attached sister.

Pru

Monday morning,

I have sent Miss Smith into the schoolroom until I seal up my letter which, however, I cannot do until I add a few lines. Miss Smith tells me she has been a pupil in two or three larger schools, and complains very much of their laxity of morals particularly of Miss C’s. She says she was perfectly miserable there. On the Sabbath Miss C never came into the room where the young ladies sat, nor did the head teacher and the young ladies amused themselves in munching sweets or in playing with each other and made such a noise that she could not read to profit. Try my own beloved girl to laugh on, if anyone laughs at you, and during the week enter into any amusement that may be going on and if possible enjoy it. You are doubtless learning something from all you see if it be but to estimate character as its proper worth, still that is something which may be of great service to you hereafter. I am very greatly surprised and pleased to notice your rapid improvement in writing and am assured that you are truely industrious, but dear I would repeat what I formaly said, that you must not apply yourself too closely to your studies which I fear you are doing. I am a little concerned about your practicing out of (after) school hours. Let your happiness or pleasure be consulted in all you do.
P H