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Show 117 feel my desires for knowledge increase as I began to see and realize how little I knew. What an undertaking this is; but I hope and I believe it will prove a blessing. In the evening I wrote to my loved ones at home. And oh,' how I longed to see them.'' It must be remembered that upon Ellis's arrival in Philadelphia she is anywhere from five to eight weeks late in beginning her studies. Seeing everything already in motion and lacking the introductory portions of her courses must have added significantly to her trepidations regarding such a radically different undertaking. The initial stages of the transition are over as she writes, on January 5th, 1876: Is it possible that I have been from home nearly two months, and what a two months it has been. What a change in my life. Most truly a change for the better in some respects, and I think if I had the society of my beloved family and the Latter-day Saints I should be perfectly happy, but Perfect happiness is not designed for this life-we must not expect to have all of the desires of our hearts granted but I think if I am able to endure this separation, as I hope I shall, and improve upon the privileges and blessings I possess I will be able to gain a knowledge and an experience that will be of eternal value to me. I have already spent many happy hours here, so delightful is it to gain knowledge! And oh, the pleasure! the ecstatic joy experienced in the perusal of my home letters. And so well written, most sublimely and poetically eloquent. How I thank my Heavenly Father for such a husband. Dear Milford, Sweet Children, fond kisses, pleasant dreams and a lingering Good Night.18 The extensive experience Ellis has had with separations from loved ones may have already served to demonstrate to her that sometimes relationships-in separation-are enhanced by the fact that communications which in person and during the normal give and take of day-to-day living tend to be perfunctory and utilitarian, can become, through correspondence, exceptionally tender and |