A Letter Written on Nov 12, 1902

Templeton, Mass.
Nov. 12, 1902.

Dear Lucy:-

I am very glad that you enjoy my letters. I think it is hard to make a letter interesting because it is apt to be a one-sided affair. The conversation carried on by yourself, is apt to grow more like a machine wound up, than a person expressing thoughts.

The Ladies Social Circle at the Church held their fair Nov. 11th. Miss Lord was to give readings intercepted with piano solos by some stranger whose name I do not recall. We did not go, as we are so busy, and from appearances I think there was a very small crowd.

They are going to give the drama "Egyptia" in Gardner at the theatre. It is almost all local talent, and some of those who take part are L. E. Grise, Mildred Ames, Helen Hoadley, Arthur Hawkes, Ethel Henshaw, Emma Glasheen, and many more, making in all about 300. It consists of singing mostly, and they say it is going to be fine.

Papa went to Boston again and arriveing [sic] at the stables was asked by Mr. Sullivan where the horses were. Papa said he shipped them a week ago. and told him he sent a postal notifying him. Mr. S- made inquires and found the hostler had received the postal but had not paid any attention to it. They telephoned down to the frieght [sic] yard and found they had been put into feed stables nearby, and Mr. S- had $4.50 for feed, besides $10 frieght, for not attending to business. Well, papa purchased another pair and sent them to Gardner. Early last Sunday morning Andrew and I went to Gardner to get them. It was very cold, if you remember, and as we started at seven o'clock, we had to bundle up well. When we got to the depot it took about half an hour to find the yard-master, and another half hour, with lots of shuntings and switching to get the car, in the place where they unload the frieght. After getting the horses out. We found they wouldn't leads so Andrew drove them home, walking part of the way, and running the other part. (They had harnesses on, papa bought a pair in Boston). In this manner we arrived home at about half-past eleven. One horse is a very dark chest-nut, and the other a bay. They pull fine and the family is at least at rest on that subject.

Saterday [sic] after-noon I went to Gardner with Andrew. He was takeing [sic] some apples in, so I thought I'd go, too.

Monday Tuesday night Andrew came home from the woods and said Mr. Fargo, who takes care of the horses and helps load wanted him to go to Gardner and get. some plate, cups, kettles, sauce-pans, lamp, stove-blackening and a variety of other things. So of course I went and helped pick out things. It seemed as if we were just married and picking out our furnishings. We went on the car, and we had all we could carry, and more than we wanted to carry, comeing [sic] home. My arms are still acheing. [sic] Mr. Fargo is keeping house or shanty by himself and he is doing it up in grand style. Monday affair after-noon he took the express wagon and went down town, and got all kinds of groceries, a barrel of flour, bed-quilts, dish pan, brooms, everything to keep house with. Then Papa had loaded a double wagon with hay, on top of which was a mattress, chair and pillow. Two horses were fastened into that wagon. And one in the express with the new pair behind. Mr. F- drove the express and Andrew the hay-wagon. It was quite a procession when they started. Andrew stayed over night to help Mr. F- get things straightened around. He said they worked until ten o'clock, and then had supper.

Mrs. Dianey French died Wednesday morning. She was buried Saterday after-noon. I think Flossie felt very badly about it, but the others didn't seem to care very much. There were a lot of flowers. Charles Elles of Boston sent a very handsome sheaf of wheat. The grandchildren, a mound of white roses, the sons a mound of roses and carnations. And five or six large bunches of carnations from friends and acquaintances, besides other flowers. Also a white cresent [sic] from the Grange.

I don't believe you will find Templeton moving any faster or slower than it did a hundred years ago. I am very sorry your vacation is so short, but we must make the most of little blessings as well as the larger ones.

It must have been very pretty to see them marching in on Founder's Day. What a lovely affair the concert must have been. I should [have] enjoyed it so much. Grandpapa plays the "Angel's Serenade["] from Braya and I think it lovely.

Don't study to[o] hard and above all don't neglect your appetite for anything. A horse cannot work on an empty stomach and neither can you. It seems to me your chemistry hours are very long.

No, I don't know when Ernest is to be married.

Lucy Hadley is certainly in great luck. She is to be the head of the laundry department and I think she is going to stay all winter.

James King has been sick with the grippe. He came home and stayed three days.

Now, I must close for this time.

With love
Edie.