A Letter Written on Oct 11, 1903

[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]

Templeton, Oct. 11, 1903.

Dear Lucy,

It is the general opinion of this family that you college girls are rather overdoing it, in praying for rain for Monday. Mary says they must have prayed fearfully. Carrie sends love, and wants me to say that she wishes you would use more judgment when you pray. We don't see the need of so much praying for rain, when one of the girls has a very particular friend who helps manage the weather. I should think it would be easier for that girl to go to Amherst and present a petition for rain for that one day, to the young man, or write and ask the favor of him. I suppose you have your own way of doing things out there, but it does seem as if the prayers must have been very indefinite.

It has been a cold, rainy, disagreeable Sun. and I have hardly been warm today. None of the family went to church but Mary went to Sun. school. This afternoon I went up in your room and read a little while and then got on to the bed and covered myself up for a nap. I was just getting to sleep when Mary knocked at the door, and I spoke but she did not hear me, then she looked in but did not see me and she went to Carrie with a sad story, her mother could not be found anywhere, Uncle Isaac was alone downstairs in the dark and the cat was missing - it was hard times if she could not find either her mother or the cat.

I expect now that we shall go to H_n some time Tuesday and probably shall be gone the rest of the week: you send your letter just the same for I shall come home Sat. if not before. I dread the week but it may not be as bad as I expect. I am afraid Carrie will have a miserable time of it staying here with Mary - she will most likely be scared half to death all the nights: but I don't see any other way. She came home Tues. night. Lizzie was better, so she went down to her meals, but could not get off the bed without help, it hurt her so. Carrie has not heard from her since she came home, and if is feeling afraid she is worse. We think we may go out to Springfield Wed. Oct. 21st. we don't know yet but you can make your plans so as not to have to practise four hours that day.

Why do you practise so much at at time or in one day? Don't you practise every day? What does your teacher give you for lessons and how do you get along? I don't mean that it is at all certain that we shall go that day but have thought of it, and if it is not convenient for you you must say so. I think it a good idea for you to practise for the field day if you can get the time - it will do you good and you will get acquainted more. I hardly expect you will take many prizes - you have not had practise enough. I am glad you are learning to play tennis. Have you bought your racket? It is well to be busy, but don't try to study too hard - you better have some things to learn after you are through college.

I suppose you have received your pillow covers, and hope they are all right. Is Aunt Augusta going out there soon or has she given it up? How should you like a cover made of your red denim, just a plain red one, to mix with the others?

Mary heard that the Bourns are going to build at once - that George and Robert are to have the business and Mr. Hadley and Will Bourn are not to be in it. That may not be true but it seems probable for we have heard that they wanted to get Mr. H- out, and also that Will B. wished to leave town. I hope it is true that they are to rebuild.

I think Walter and Mason went back about Oct. 1. They are closing the Inn for the winter now, so everybody will be gone from town soon. I thought I saw Stuart going in to the Scollays today but was not sure. That Mr. Hill, whom we used to see go by here last summer, is married and is to live in the Scollay's tenement. Mr. Riggs and Mrs. Cook have moved to Portland. Jay Stanley has bought his horse, buggy &c. Harold Cobleigh had an operation for appendicitis, a week ago today. I think he is getting along all right. Esther went from Springfield to Warren to visit her cousin Emory Sawyer, and when she got there she found his mother was dead, she was the Aunt Mary that she used to go to Baldwinville to see, so she stayed till after the funeral and then went home. I suppose she came up to Baldwinsville and went home from there.

Emma just called at the door Wed. night, the day of the funeral, but only stayed till the car came. I heard last summer that Mrs. Challoner was to be married, and thought you knew of it. I think Miss Brewer told Mary - it was that red-headed man that was staying about here, I supposed. Do you think that has any thing to do with Edith's going to work? Carrie and I went to Gardner yesterday afternoon in the rain - we did not think it was going to rain till we were all ready to start, and would not back out. We bought a neck chain for Mary's birthday - she had told us that she could not think of anything but a chain or a camera that she wanted - it was rather more than I wanted to get, but we "clubbed together." Don't mention it in your letter as she sees them all.

Mrs. Bartlett and Mrs. Parkhurst went on an excursion to Albany, down the Hudson to N.Y. and how to Boston by boat, and were to come home to-day - it has rained all the time they were gone. Grandma Parkhurst went to the Cutting's to stay and Helen stayed with Linnie. Carl Drury has been out to Pittsburg visiting his soldier brother - was gone two weeks - of course we missed him. Mrs. Parker called on us and stayed two or three hours, one afternoon - she can talk just as fast as ever. Have you heard from Edith yet? I certainly should not write two letters to her one if I was you: she has as much time as you have.

Every thing goes along as usual here. Uncle Isaac is well as common or he says nothing if he is not - he has been very quiet lately - more than usually, I think. I hope you are over your cold, and I hope you will be careful not to overdo. I expect to see you soon now and after that it will not be a great while to Thanksgiving - it seems as if you have been gone three months.

I am afraid you did not have your straw ride last week, but it will keep. You can think of me during the week, sorting things over, wondering which to keep & which to throw away. I am puzzled to know where I am to sleep, for I don't intend to sleep with Aunt Ann: perhaps I can find a hook in some corner and hang up. I think I have left out something I wanted to say, but I can't think what.

Much love,
Mama.