[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]Templeton, Mass.,
Oct. 19, 1902.Dear Lucy:-
I am a whole year older than I was yesterday and I feel very big. I don't know as I shall be able to go to school to-morrow as Auntie gave me a big box of candy and she has some kisses that are exceedingly good. Auntie gave me a new Boston bag which is a[s] nice as need be. I shall not have to use yours any more. I have nearly worn yours out. Mine is a kind a [sic] blue with little white stripes across it and light brown leather[.] Mama gave me half a dozen linen handkerchiefs with M worked in them and money $1.10 to buy a class pin with.
I went up to Edith's yesterday afternoon. Her mother came here yesterday morning and as Mama understood her said that Edith wanted me to come up and spend yesterday and last night with her as Mrs. B. and Andrew were going to New Hampshire to visit Andrew's uncle uncle [sic] or aunt. I went up to stay a little while in the afternoon and Edith didn't seem to expect me so I guess Mrs. B. had come here without saying anything to Edith. Miss Cobleigh kept the whole Algebra class after school the other night because six of the boys laughed. She made them do extra work but we sat there and studied. We were all mad. I went into the office the other night to see Mr. Osbourne and he said that he had received a letter from you. He told me that I ought to be jealous of him because you wrote to him instead of to me.
Friday Linnie and I almost froze driving down and when we got there the door into Miss Ryan's room was locked and we couldn't get in. When we did get in the temperature was down to forty-four. She had Mr. MacDonald come up and he found that some one had nicely let down every window at the top and fixed the curtains so that no one could see it. I wore my jacked [sic] until the sixth period. We had it in Room 11 and I sit in Stone's seat. I took my jacket off and of course left it. I went back to my seat and the next thing I knew Stone came over and dumped it on my head. I went up to the market last night and Carl wanted to know how Lucy liked. I guess you will have to give him your picture to make him happy.
I am going to carry your Boston bag to school when I carry squash pie for I am afraid that it will get mushed. Did you see any Amherst boys that you knew on their
fieldmountain day? It is very strange that you should have found out the Agricultural colors so quickly. How is Helen? We have gay times in Miss Fairbank's class. We laugh and do most anything we please. Itpleasesamuses me to see her nod her head and say "exactly." We have gay times in drill. The last time we had to try to touch the toes with our fingers without bending our knees. When Company A is at ease we sometimes get a little noisy and Mac will say, "You mustn't laugh or I send you down to the office." We have him one time and Capt. Potter the next. We had to paint a marigold in drawing last Monday. There are three in my division. Miss Brewer, Miss Wright, and meself. The others have French that period or something else.G.H.S. football teem [sic] went to Leminster [sic] Saturday and got beaten. Bessie said they cheated. Mr. Fred Stone told me I would have cried if I had been there. I don't know why. Gene, Howard Greenwood & Stanly Knolton got left at Spencer last week when they played[.] They had a terrible time and got home at 3 Sun. morning two of them with a cent a piece.
Auntie sends her love.
With love,
Mary