Egan Sister Mary, Emmitsburg, Maryland, to Catherine, Seton, Baltimore, Maryland, 1816 July 23

She received "Kitty"'s letter with delight. She observed that Kitty spends her time well, but wishes with Maria Gillespie that she would write more often. She will narrate the experiences of a typical day, yesterday. She and the girls undertook a walking trip to the top of the mountain but stopped on the way to pick blackberries. The girls screamed that there was a snake round S. Fennell's leg. S. Jane jumped over the fence and found that Fennell was caught in briars and being stung by wasps or bees. Fennell was left at Mrs. Brawnes's and all the rest proceeded on the way. They began climbing rocks from the foot of the mountain, when there was another snake alarm, this time true. M. Stiegers who is very nervous was in terror. They all continued on until they began to think they had better turn back if they didn't want to lose supper. They gathered a few whortleberries and started home. They took the wrong road and had to cut across fields to get to the right one. The field grass was very deep and some of them were making the sign of the cross every step they took sic. Getting to the right road they had to go back a half mile for Fennell before going home to supper. They ask Catherine to write soon. M. Gillespie is also waiting for an answer., P.S. She excuses herself for having written a foolish letter. But Maria Gillespie said Catherine liked that kind. She asks Catherine to remember her to A. Tiernon and Sally, M. White, I. Jenkins and Mr. Hickley. None of the girls have gone to communion yet. :: II-1-a A.L.S. 4pp. 12mo., 2