Templeton, Mass.,
Mar. 1904.Dear Lucy:-
I think that your letter was a decidedly wide awake one I am so sorry you had such a bad time in secureing [sic] a man. You ought to have taken your Uncle Isac [sic] in place of the sick man.
I have been trying to picture you in your ball costume. I suppose you were very dignified. "Walking with stately tread around the promenade to the tinkle of sweet cymbals."
I made some fudge this afternoon and have had splendid luck. Andrew has eaten so much I amafraid he will make himself sick. There is little left for me.
I have been troubled lately with a horrid cough which is extremely unpleasent. [sic] I've had it almost all winter and will be glad to be rid of it. Don't you want it? I will sell it quite reasonable.
Mrs. Henry Seaver's grandfather died last night at six o'clock. He was sick in bed for three days. I heard he was ninety-four years old.
They are haveing [sic] real frisky times on our electric cars. Last week nine Finns thought it would be nice to do a little fighting on the car. They succeeded beautifully as they were the only passengers.
I received a letter from Nellie this week. I rather fancy she is home-sick. Her letters are all of home. She sent me a very pretty post-card with an Indian head and Chinese girl on the back. She said her father had secured a position as a meat-cutter in the hotel where James worked. John was working in the post-office. They were starting to get some what acquainted as they had joined a Social Club.
March has arrived like a lion and is whistling down the chimneys and rattling the shutters[.] We are haveing [sic] some sleighing yet, although the rain has washed off a good deal of snow.
Roy Clark and Elsie Maynard are home on their vacations. I saw by last night's paper that Elsie is going to spend a portion of her vacation with her aunt Mrs. Hutchins as also is Berdille. I have the idea that none of the Maynard family are very much attached to their homes.
Miss Hadley is not going to teach in East Templeton any more[.] She has accepted a position as a book-keeper for Brown & Hadley. Ethel Henshaw is working for Mrs. Ernest Bowen as Mrs. Bowen is expecting to be sick very soon.
I suppose Ethel Henshaw and John Stanley will be married some-time. They are not going to marry until they have saved $700 to go house-keeping on.
There is to be a fire-man's ball some-time in May. Arthur Greenwood, Rob Bourn, Mr. Hunting and the two Stanleys, Jay and Harry are to be the committee. I think that I shall go.
George French has married again. He has married a widow from Harlem, New York. He married her a year and a half ago, and has kept it secret all this time. He says his mother knew of it when she died. They are now living up on the farm. She has some children and they are comeing [sic] to live with them this summer.
Harry Stanley is drinking terribly so I hear. He looks as thin and gaunt as can be. Grace and Harry very seldom go anywhere together. It is more the exception than the rule.
It will be very foolish for you to have the measles, after escaping them for so many years. I credited you with more common-sense. Did you know that Chessie Whitney was peddling essences, perfumes etc.,. She came up here one day. She has not any thing below a dollar. It does seem to me she could do some-thing more profitable than that. She has quite a knack for dress-making. She makes and fits all of her own dresses. I should think she could do some-thing in that line better than peddling essences.
Edwin Hersey is in Conn. working in a portable steam-mill. I do not know what Charlie is doing.
Easter is not very far away is it? I suppose that you are looking forward to comeing [sic] home. I hope I shall be able to see you this time. I have not seen you since Thanksgiving. My hair is growing out real fast, but it isn't going to be much thicker. I can pompadour it in front now, so I am beginning to look quote like my old self.
Well, I guess that this will do for to-night. I do not want to burden your mind with to[o] much, and I think George French is all I can stand.
With love,
Edie.