East TempletonMy dear Lucy -
I was a little surprised when, looking at the date of your letter to see October twelfth, but should certainly have written before, if you had not been home, have been very busy the last two weeks making me a new dress, Warren brought it to me last Fall when he went to Boston, last Friday evening was Gentleman's night in the Wellington Club, and of course I wanted to wear my new dress, but felt just tired out working so hard, so this week am just resting only doing my regular work, went up home Monday, Grandma is gaining, had been out in the kitchen to her meals for the first time, she thinks it takes a good while to get her strength back. It was very cold here the first of the week, and today it has been raining, looks now like fair weather Uncle Warren sent you one of his new pictures Monday, (perhaps they don't allow you to have gentleman pictures) but you tell them it's all right, he is your uncle. I think they are very good of him.
I have not seen any of your people since you were here, but suppose they are all well.
Have the Amherst cousins been to see you again?
Have you read the Virginian, by Owen Wister, said to be the best book of last year. I like it, like his style of writing, and it is interesting, have just begun another, the Leopard's Spots, a story of the South, just after the Civil War, from a Southerners standpoint, think it will be very good.
We had quite a sensation here last week when Thurber Sargeant's oldest daughter came here and went to John Wheeler's to see her aunt, they disowned her and sent her away when she was a tiny baby, now she is about twenty-five, we heard she wanted to see her folks, to see how they looked, a natural curiosity I should think. Thurber has moved down to his mothers.
Hoping this finds you well and happy - Your loving aunt
Ada E. BalcomJan 21. 1903.