McSherry, Alice, fl. 1864-1865 to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Alice to her cousin Henry. Says she went to Kittaming, Pennsylvania to do some shopping, and when she was leaving on the train she saw a gentleman who had come to town to see her. Says she got off the train at the next stop and walked back to see him. Says he was in a "towering rage" when she arrived because he was going to go to Pittsburgh and visit her afterwards. Says she has a strong will and will do whatever she determines to do. Thanks him for sending a rose and telling her of his travels. Thinks he is too strong in his denounciation of novels. Mentions her reading interests and says "too much paper [is] wasted in publishing trashy, nonsensical romances." Likes Dickens, Scott, and Thackery. When mentioning Scott, she says she enjoys the song "Bruce's Address" and proceeds to transcribe it for him on pages 4-5. Goes into an extended discussion of Dickens' "David Copperfield" as well as other assorted works. Claims that she loved reading so much that she would read books that were not assigned in school and do poorly. Signed letter on page 10, and begins a second letter dated 21 October. Says if it was not a sin, she would envy his travels around the world. Henry is at or around Batavia, Java.