[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]Templeton, Mass.,
Sept. 30, 1902.Dear Lucy:-
I have fallen in love with a Gardner boy! I am dead struck with Dwight Hadley. He seems like a very nice boy. Mamma has been to Gardner to-day and is worrying because she had three dollars more than she ought to have. Auntie says to tell you to keep your courage up for you can come home in eight weeks. We are cooking for you now, jelly for instance. Mamma has made about two dozen glasses of apple jelly. Don't you wish you had a kettle to scrape? Twice Auntie and I have each had one.
For the last few days we have lived in fear. Monday when we went to school Elmer or "Mick" told us that there would probably be a car at six but he didn't know as there would be another one for there was precious little coal at the nower-house. We didn't catch our car but got down West just as the Baldwinsville car came in. We got on for we didn't known [sic] as there would ever be another one and went to East Templeton. The girls, Helen, Bessie and Mabel went down to Grace Kings but I went to Aunt Ada's but didn't find her so wandered about till the other car came. We didn't know what time a car would go the next morning so Auntie asked Mrs Blodgett and she said they would run as usual to-day. Elmer said that there should be two cars of coal down on the railroad. We all watched and found one was there. We all gave a yell when we saw it.
The companies at school chose officers Monday. The girls had a great time. One hundred and forty-six votes were cast for captain and one hundred forty-two were for Maud Chippie. [?] I don't know how many times we voted for first and second lieutentant [sic] but finally we got Linnie for the first one and Miss Murray for the second. The girls have to be divided into two companies for nearly every girl takes calisthenics. The boys chose Bates the captain of the big boys' company and Harold Draker for the little boys.
Gardner H.S. played foot-ball with T.A.C. and beat six to five. Next Saturday they play with Lemenster [sic] at Gardner. I saw Kendall at school last week but he didn't see me. Wasn't that too bad! He went and talked with Linnie. There was a girl at school, the other day, that wanted to know about you, how you liked and all that. She said you promised to write to her. I don't think she was a scholar there. Who was she? Auntie says she wishes that you would make out a notice telling how you are and send so that she may post it in the entry of the church so she will not have to answer so many questions.
I made a lovely spice cake last Saturday. Mama says to tell you that it is never going to clear off. How is Helen? Have you seen Alice yet? It is a very sad tale about Amber Snowdrop No. 2. Did the girls say anything about Harkness' picture being "nice looking?" Mr. Abott tested our voices to-day and put me in as first soprano. Did I tell you we are going to have blue and gold for our class colors? Auntie brought this box of paper for me at Ware. It is this blue and white put in so they look so pretty. Everything is swimming at school. We are prospering fairly well in Algebra. I shall probably think of something to tell after I close but I am going to venture.
With lots of love
Mary.P.S. The envelops [sic] to this paper look like those on wedding anouncements! [sic] And she got this before I fell in love. Mary