Evansville Ind. Oct. 31st 1874.Dear Sister Martha
It is over nine weeks since I left home and it seems very short. I am not very well just now but hope to be better soon. I have had the headache a good deal but think I shall get over that now. I am changed from a single to a double school and do occupy the position of assistant. It was my own desire because I cannot teach music and it had to be taught, and now I do not have to teach it and I have so much less care and have some one to show me how to teach according to their ways. I rec'd a letter from home this week and Susan wrote that they were all well except Uncle Robert and that Amelia Dole had lost her school because that woman came home and Lissa had to give up her school on account of her health.
To day is the ninth Anniversary of Cousin Kate's marriage and she has invited her family friends and her husbands to supper and to spend the evening, she is going to have a nice supper I believe.
Mrs. Howes came up from her home in Miss. day before yesterday; she expects to make quite a visit perhaps spend the winter. I don't think that my S. School Class and going to church all day tires me one bit I think it rests me.
The weather has been very warm but now it is very cold. I have put on flannel undershirts and guess I shall have to clothe myself in flannel. I am making me a white flannel petticoat now.
I have been reading "Ecce Homo." Life of One and Half a Dozen of the Other, by six well know[n] authors, and have commenced Romula [sic] by George Eliot[.] Mr. Orr has such a fine Library and he allows one to take any book I please. from it. I wish I could write an interesting letter to you but I really can think of nothing to write. We have had a pleasant autumn thus far but it is very cold now. Such lovely roses as the children have brought to me, I wish you could see them I never saw anything so lovely. Susan wrote that Lafayette had come back from Nebraska, and was going to sell his place and go back to Nebraska with his wife and Robbie, Mary is going next summer. George wants to go but Sarah dont [sic] want to have him and I don't know how they will decide. Susan also wrote that they had picked the apples and pears, a bushel of the latter from one tree. I wish I could have some of them, for they have no pears here except the California pears and those are so dear. They have plenty of fruit here all except pears.
Susan wrote that Delia was still in Shelburne and I have written to find out her address when she goes back. Cousin Hattie lost a little girl two years ago, Mary she had the same as Kate and John, two girls and a boy[.] Cousin Kate's little boy Sam is such a cunning little fellow, but he has been quite sick as also her oldest girl Emily. I have not had the chills as yet but have had a cold and was so hoarse I could hardly speak. It is Saturday and I always feel so lazy Saturday. Write as soon as you can and I will try to write a more interesting letter next time.
With love as ever your aff. Sister
Mercy Anderson.