[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]Templeton, May 31, 1903.
Dear Lucy,
I don't believe I shall try to write a very long letter to-night, for I feel pretty tired although I have had a long nap. There has been so much extra this last week that I needed rest to-day, but am only a little tired, not sick. I sent your clothes Friday afternoon and thought you would get them yesterday, but I did not think any thing about that yesterday was a holiday so am afraid you have not got them yet. Carrie packed them in a little hurry and I found out to-day that she sent the wrong pillow case, but you can put it in your bundle when you send it - perhaps you will not need it, you are coming home so soon: you better put your winter flannels in the next time for you will not have too much room when you pack up to come home. If you leave sofa pillows or any things that moths trouble, put newspapers round them first - moths don't like printer's ink.
Invite Louise to visit you, by all means. I think she would enjoy Templeton now and we should be pleased to have her come. Lizzie is going away the last of June or first of July to make some visits in Maine, but very likely will not be gone when you come, but that will make no difference we can arrange about sleeping easily. Lizzie went to Gardner last night to visit at Fred Leland's and is going to Hubbardston Thursday to visit Mrs. Smart and next week she talks of going to Worcester again. The Scollays have two boarders, an elder lady and a young lady. I have seen in the paper that Stuart has resigned his position at the power house, but I don't know if it is true.
I believe Mary wrote you about Mr. Hale: it is a dreadful thing for him, but I think he was fortunate not to lose his life. I think by the little I can learn that the fault was his, because he was following the other car too closely, but am not sure about that. I saw by the Gardner News that Bertie Balcom, is dead. Mary heard that Andrew & Edith had separated but she saw them riding together Sat. and looking very smiling, so I conclude they have not separated.
I received the forget-me-nots Friday night and took them up to the cemetery Sat. morning. I put a large bunch of them on your papa's grave, and a smaller bunch on your Aunt Sophia's, Carrie C's, Cousin Margaret's and Edna Holden's graves. I thought you would like to do that with them. I went to the services Sat. afternoon, with Uncle Isaac, Lizzie and Mary: they were very good, especially the singing which was by Geo. Stone, Arthur Hawkes, Mr. Meals and a man I did not know: they stood in front of the pulpit to sing and did not have accomplishment. Minnie and Emma called in the evening. Emma came up Fri. night to stay till Mon. morn. Esther came up to Mr. Lane's funeral and went back the next night. I went to the funeral of course. I will try to send you a paper with an account of it. Have you seen the piece in the Springfield Republican about him, and his picture? I went to the jug-breaking for a little while. Tuesday eve. Mary did pretty well but was a little scared. Lizzie made Mary's white pique waist last week, and M- feels pretty good.
When I took your box to the station I went on to the cemetery and into the woods back of it for wild flowers: the black flies bit my face so I look as if I had been down to the corner at E- T-n: one eye-lid is all swollen up. You send your clothes any time that it suits you, only send enough so you will not need to do any more washing or not so much, before you come home. Lizzie, Carrie and I called on Miss Wilkinson, Mrs. Maynard and Mrs. Briggs, the other night. Mary Stone has been in town but goes away the first of the week. Mattie brought flowers for memorial day - peonies and snowballs. I must close, and tell the rest some other time.
Much love, Mama.
Elsie Maynard is at home to-day.