Templeton, Mass.
Oct. 16, 1902,Dear Lucy:-
Of course I attended the silver wedding. And - it was a decidly [sic] formal affair. We arrived at about 8.30 expecting to attend some-thing very swell. In the hall-way appeared Mr. P. F.- and his spouse was no where visible. We were undecided as to whether we had better offer congratulations or not. So we sailed up-stairs. and there beheld Mrs. P.F. in deep conversation with the hotel. girls. Again we were undecided. but finally Mrs. F- came over and shook hands with us. There were about 25 people, a good many didn't come that were invited. and a good many that came did. not bring any presents. Mr. & Mrs. Ellis of Boston sent to them by their son a silver-tea-set. Mr. & Mrs. Stiles, silver butter knife and sugar. shell. Hotel. chef. $5., hotel. girls. $5.50. Mrs. Laura Seaver & Mr. & Mrs. Henry china-plate. We gave them a silver-bon-bon dish. Robert Cobleigh was indisposed. so was unable to play the piano or even attend. So for dancing Helen Maynard. Mrs. Maynard and I played while one of the hotel. girls called off. Finally refreshments were served. Consisting of several varieties of very nice cake, and some horrible ice-cream. It tasted like skim-milk and water frozen together. and then. we went home.
By the way, - Flossie was not able to attend as she was sick in bed with the pleurisy and a bad cold. She is better now. (It the wedding was held. at Grange Hall)
Annie Riley is expecting an addition to her family.
Papa is going to sell the milk-route. He is going into the logging business. He has taken a contract for one year with Mr. Clarke. Thompson to draw logs from the Rice lot in Hubbardston. It is a job for $2500. Papa is going to have two teams. One. pair of horses he will have to buy, so he is going to Boston next week to get a pair, as he thinks he can get them cheaper there Papa will have Andrew on one team. and Mr. LeClair on the other. He himself will stay at home. He may not sell the East Templeton and Templeton Route right away. If he does he will keep enough dry cows to eat up the fodder and sell them in the spring as new-milk. and only keep one good cow for his own use. He has run the cart 12 years.
I enjoyed the meeting of the Wellington Club very much. It. met at Mrs. Roundy's. Mr. Charles Lord spoke of his ascent of Mt. Vesuivius [sic], his visit to St. Peter's, the Coliseum, and the Catacombs. After that refreshments of tea. fruit and fancy crackers were served. Your aunt Mrs. Balcom was there.
I only went to the exhibits at the Grange fair. and they were fine. There were three long tables down the center of the Chapel. Hall. and settees around the rest of the room with the exception of one side were [sic] there were placed tables for fancy-works. Mrs. Searles had an apple. a King Pippin. weighting [sic] over a pound. Mr. Stinson had some fine potatoes, Mr. Prescott Cutting some lovely pop-corn. and a fine display of Garden vegetables. Of course there were lots of other vegetables. Henry Seaver had butter-milk. and cream on exhibition. Mrs. H. Seaver & Mrs. Newton all kinds of preserves and jellies. Mrs. Parkhurst had an Indian blanket, minerals and specimens of Indian bric-a-brac, Mrs. Chamberlin, a silk hand embroidered Japanese shawl worn on her bridal day, Helen Maynard embroidery and many other things by other people were there.
Mama and Andrew are going away Saterday [sic] to N.H. to stay until Monday afternoon. I am to be housekeeper and I am going to try and get Flora Sanderson to stay with me and we expect to have a jolly time.
Amber wishes to be remembered to you. He is in the best of health, and haveing [sic] indulged in 3 leaves of cat-nip, 1 saucer of bread and milk and a piece of raw meat, he feels that he is in a beautific state.
Well, no more news for this time and this probably will be about all that you can digest for once.
Edie.