Hannover, Germany

Oct. 13, 1889

My dear Mother & Father,

Another week has passed and I have had no word from you.  But I know you must be very busy- so busy that it tires me to think of it.  I wrote you soon after coming back from Hildesheim about my lovely visit there.  I hope you received all my letters.  I always write twice a week, have ever since I came.

We have planned to start for Berlin in the morning.  We go directly to Berlin.  Thence to Dresden, and home by Leipzig and Brunswick.  Our ticker for the round trip is a little less than $7.00 Then we have already engaged our at the Evangelical Union house in Berlin – like our Woman Association rooms there the board is very cheap.  Our room costs us 33 cents apiece a day, and we can order what we choose at reasonable rates — dinner is 25 cents, the other meals probably cheaper.  This is very cheap, if you consider that Berlin is a City, the largest in Germany & one of the largest cities in the world.  At Berlin we intend to write to Dresden to the same kind of a house there and engage a room.  It is generally quite necessary to engage before hand, as ofter these houses are crowded.  We stop a few hours in Leipzig on our home trip. I don’t know how long for we have not yet decided what day to come home.  It depends on how expensive it is.  Fraulein Greise, one of the young ladies here, goes with us – She has money of her own and has traveled about somewhat.  It will be very nice for us as she can speak both French and German and a little English.  The “Baedecker”  which Miss Swan has of Northern Germany, one of the best guides published- gives all the principal things to be seen, when opened, admittance fees, a map guide of the streets- so that with our “Baedecker and plenty of money one could travel around the world independent of any one.  Miss S. bought her Baedecker in America.  Here they cost a dollar less than in America-  $1.50 here $2.50 there.  I want one very much of Switzerland.

I have had a nap this p.m. and feel made over anew.  I have not been having quite enough sleep lately-  Miss Swan is telling me about some weddings which took place in Holyoke on my birthday, so while I am listening to her, I am going right on writing.  Please excuse mistakes.  Right after a very nice dinner – I I will tell you what we had- Goose, with a dressing sweetened with raisins, potatoes, cauliflower, and for dessert cake with a filling of whipped cream and nuts– very delicious-

I lay down and slept until the bell rang.  I heard Tante Marie’s voice and she was inquiring for Miss Risley – and with it the word,  “telegram.”  I was quite excited and before I could get to the door after a rap came and a voice called out “A telegram.”  Miss Swan  was at the door.  I tried to open the the seal but in my excitement it would not come open.  Miss Swan endeavored to pull up the curtain, and finally succeeded in doing that and opening the seal- all this time the man was waiting at the door to see if there was to be an answer.  And what  after our excitement do you suppose the terrible news was?   Birthday greeting from Fraulein Fredericks who heard yesterday from Fraulein Griese that it was my birthday, and immediately sent me, “Her wish for heartfelt happiness.”  It was very exciting.  Of course, my thoughts were on America, and I was greatly relieved.  I must get ready for church now.  We have have had coffee- Two friends of the Frauleins were in . We had cake and coffee-cake is not usual here.

I must tell you about my birthday.  How pleased you would have been if you could have seen how kind they were  to me yesterday!  Indeed, I was quite over-powered by all their kindness. I have just come in from church and have left just the time between now and supper to finish this,  for as soon as supper is over I intend to get into bed as soon as possible.  We must get up at six o’clock, and start for the station at seven.  So I must be in bed in good season.

Yesterday morning when  I came in to breakfast- I was a little late-  There standing by my plate was a lovely potted red stock-double- and very fragrant, and a bunch of flowers from the Frauleins- Also a piece of lace from Miss Swan which had quite a history. It was begun in Holyoke, continued in Norwich, worked on at sea, and finished in Hannover.   Later Miss Swan went out and bought a picture of the pretty  Eng.  stone church for me.  And still later, in the afternoon- Miss  Swan and Fraulein Griese brought me home some chocolate which here in Germany is delicious and cheap- and a lovely””Sea France” rose.  She brought two packages in, the first, the chocolate, the said was from my mother, and the “Sea France” rose from Miss Bell.  Fraulein Griese brought me two lovely bunches of violets and a second cake of chocolate.  The Frauleins took me into their arms when I came into breakfast, called me, “Their birthday child- a phrase hard to translate int Eng., we have no equivalent that I know of and wished me much joy.  Then all the young ladies came and shook hand wishing me many good thing.  It was a delightful day!  I shall never forget my 26th birthday n Hannover.  We are having beautiful weather & I hope it will continue fine while we are in Berling & Dresden.  I shall probably send you only a card from Dresden. as I shall doubtless be too busy to write a letter.  The Emperor of Russia is to be in Berlin this week.  I may get a sight at him.  The Frauleins have offered to provide us with a lunch to eat in the cars.  I will send you a few of my birthday violets.  They come to you, my dears with my love.  I hope there will be a letter for me soon from you.

The leaves are off many of the trees, the season here is very early on account of the early Spring.  Now dearests, good night.  Do take care of yourselves and try to be happy.  I wish I could do something to make you more so.  It has been another lovely Sunday.  God bless you, my dear ones and have you in his Holy Keeping

With a great deal of love,

Harriett E. Risley