[There are many misspellings in this letter and tagging each one would make for distracting reading, so I elected to tag none of them.]Enfield
Feb 2 1908Dear Miss Backer
I will try & answer your very welcome letter was very sorry to learn that you were not well hope you are better now hope you & yours are not haveing the grip thare are a great meny this way sick with it & a number of old people dide lately in town
Well it is cold weather up with you the wind blows a gale hear what must it be in New Salem must be fearse
are you going a good deal this winter do you go to the grange I go to all of the meetings in Enfield & to same of the other townes I joined the Pamana in the fall I injoy going to thear meetings very much that is about all I go onely down town
hop you had lots of new things this winter & are you a going to home late this spring that will be hear before we know it I did not have eny thing new this winter I go so little I dont need them dont know what I will have this spring I expect to stay hear this winter Mrs Felton felt she could not let me go & so I told her I would stay but wanted a week as ton [?] but dont see as I shall get it at preasant I wanted to go up to Orange & [...] my self I would run up to see you one day I do want to see you so much I think of the times we had up to the Hall some good times
Well Mr Whipple is married they say quite a supprise to people I guess I went up to New Salem Thanksgiving with Mr F but did not see eny one at the Hall we went all over the new academy it must be nice when it is done do you expect to be able to go back in the spring I hope you will be able to teach if you wish when I get through hear I want a little time to my self then I do not know whare I will go cousin Minnie wants me to come down thare
cousin Charlie was married the week before xmass sent me his card xmass & my young friend Alace masterdale was married the 8 she had a good meny very nice preasants
I had a nice letter from Miss Bliss the other day
the other day I had a hard time with my breath & have not felt as well since I am very tired wish I could talk with you instead of writing how are your people it is geting bed time so I think I will close
hopeing to hear from your soon with love ever your friend
Hattie. M. Joslyn
P.S. how is the little lily mine has 4 blossoms on one bulb & one other bulb is buded