[A few paragraph breaks were added for ease of reading]Shelburne, Mass. Dec. 25. 1874
My dear Sister Martha
I wish you a Merry Christmas and happy new year but Christmas and New Year's will be two months past when you get this letter. Helen sits in a chair beside me chattering and talking and asking all sorts of questions and sending all sorts of messages to you she wanted me to tell you what Santa Claus sent her[.] First of all he brought her a sled from popa and a pair of stockings from Auntie and an apron and led [sic] pencil and bag of candy from Cousin Hattie and some pictures Eliza had the same except the stockings and all the time she can get she is sliding on her sled. School does not keep to day as it is a half day and the teachers are not obliged to keep and I guess some of them will not besides our teacher.
Our Sabbath school had a Christmas tree at the vestry last night. I went down but did not have any present. I told them that I had just as much and no more than I expected which was just nothing at all. The young men of our congregation made Mr Marsh a present of a study lamp and the ladies made Mrs. Marsh a present of a purse of six dollars. They had some other presents but I do not know what they were. And Roland and Willie had quite a number of presents. Charles Upton had the most of any he had more than he could carry home and Sarah said that he had some more at home that he was not agoing to have till morning[.]
The trees looked very pretty and the evening passed off very pleasanty [sic] although it was very noisy by the request of the committee who had charge of affairs. Mr Taylor and Mr Marsh tried to made [sic] some remarks but there was so much noise that anyone could not hear more than half of what was said and they might have as well not said any thing for all the good it done. Mr Taylor gets the blues sometimes and I dont know as I wonder for a good many folks seem to think that it is their duty to find all the fault with persons in office that they can. Mr Taylor makes a first rate superintendent and if he only had a first class education he would make a good deal smarter man than Mr. Marsh for there isa good deal more to him than there is to Mr. Marsh[.] The great trouble with Mr. Taylor is that he does not have confidence enough in his own powers, but he does a good deal better than he did when he first was chozen [sic] superintendent. in some respects he does a good deal better than Deacon Nims. for he goes and does what he thinks might to be done and does not ask anyone whether he better do it or not, and in what he is better than Deacon Nims for Deacon Nims very often would not do a thing he would be glad to do because he was afraid that someone would not like it[.]
I had quite a something or other with Wm. Bardwell last night. D. O. Fiske has a colored girl to work for him and she was there last night and what must Wm Bardwell do but go and sit down beside her the first thing she did was to turn her back to him for she could not very well get away and too there was not room enough on the seat for before Bill B. came there was three grown persons besides a child on the seat and it was not meant for more than two but what must Bill Bardwell do but go and force himself on to the seat and create a general rough among the boys at the girl's expence. [sic] and when they bought him his presents he tried to make the girl take them out when she would not he put them in her lap and made her hold them for him. She has been in my Sabbath school class so I am some acquainted with her and after the exercises I went and spoke to her and told her that if I had been in her place I would have kicked him off of the seat and then I said that if he had given me that cup and saucer to hold I would have smashed it and Wm B. came along and heard me say it and was agoing to put his hand on me when I drew back and drew myself up to my full height and faced him for a moment then turned on my heel and left him[.] The boys clapped their hands and cheered but I dont know whether it was at him or me any way I thought I would let the girl know that I did not approve of such actions towards her for she is a smart girl if she is black and she has as good a right to decent treatment as a white girl. But any way I dont think that Wm. Bardwell knows how to treat any lady decent I expect. I have made him my enemy but I do not care if I have. I do not think he can injure me.
Before I forget it I want to tell you what Eliza wanted me to tell you[.] She wanted me to tell you that she could spell "missionaries" she has just learnt now to day and she felt very proud of her ability to spell it. The folks all are as well as usual Father's health is I think better than it was when you went away he has not as yet caught any cold and I hope he will not. Another of our Shelburne girls is agoing to do it Martha Peck was over from Conway last night with her gentleman she has taught school a good deal in Conway lately and so has got acquainted there and the consequence is that she has got caught or the gentleman has got caught or they both have got caught[.] They say she is agoing to be married in the spring but I guess you will want to know who the gentleman is he is Susan Clarys brother. I was provoked at the Shelburne folks they acted as thought they never saw any one before and allstared at Martha and Mr Clary as though they were a wonderful sight.
Dec. 26. I have been making pies to day and if you could just step in you might have some apple and mince and pumpkin pie. I baked and ironed to day and Mother has been fixing her something to wear Wealthy came here last night and today she went to Greenfield with John. Dec. is most gone and we have not had snow enough yet to make sleighing and the spring and streams are very low our folks by careful management have enough water of their stock without driving any off but most of the farmers have to drive their stock quite a ways after water. Tyler has gone home sick and David Purrington is working for John for a few days till Tyler is better. All send love
Ever your affectionate sister
Susan E. Anderson.