[Some paragraph markings added for ease of reading]Templeton, Nov. 2, 1902.
Dear Lucy,
I am certainly "up a stump" (to express it very elegantly) for something to write about. I don't think any thing has happened all the week with worth writing about. I washed and ironed, cooked, swept &c. and when I was not doing that I was taking care of grapes. I am thankful to say they are all taken care of now, and we have canned grapes, grape jelly and grape juice enough to last for a while. I have some quinces and this week I must put up quince and pears, and finish up with a little apple and quince jelly. I have done no housecleaning and no sewing since you went away. Carrie came home Friday afternoon: she brought flannels, a skirt, and cloth for a waist for you. I have not made the other flannel waist yet. Shall you need it before Christmas? I hope you will be able to get your gym.suit as soon as you need it. How did you come out with your autobiography? I hope you made use of all the hints I gave you. Do you have to wait on table? I am glad you bought some grapes and think you better get some more if you want them - they are good for you.
I went to Gardner Friday afternoon to get some butter, meat &c. I stayed over one car. Mary went to Florence Taylor's party and I went up to escort her home. Ruth went up with her but was not ready to come home when we did. I am wondering if she will tell her father she did not come with us, for he expected she would. Mary has been nearly sick, or not at all well, with a cold and cough. I thought she was better, but I think she got a little more cold that rainy day, and she does not get over it. She has made 'taffy' today to cure her, and we have all eaten, to prevent a cough, I suppose. M- did not go to the 'Lend A Hand' yesterday - she did not wish to go and we encouraged her to stay at home - there were only four there, three besides Helen.
Miss Lucy Hadley has an invitation to go to Jamaica Island for a visit and I hear she has accepted. A Mr. Davis, a cousin of her father, has invited her and pays her expenses. Isn't she in luck? I saw in the paper that Ernest Bourn is engaged to Miss Stimpson, who has been working at the Inn: another family of Bourns. Uncle Isaac seems much better - he is taking a tonic the Dr. left him and I think it is helping him - he has worked most of the time, the last few days. I think he intends to go to Hubbardston to vote. I don't know whether he will make much of a stay or not. Aunt C- is not able to do the work for him, but I presume she would manage to get along, if she knew it would make her sick. She wrote to him last week and sent me a dollar to pay my travelling expenses the day I visited her. I may go every week if she will do that every time.
Mary was kept after school again last week. Mr. Osborne kept the whol[e] latin class just long enough so she missed her car: she is very sure she had not done any thing wrong. They had an exam. in algebra and she got 80. Helen and Beulah each got 40 and Mabel 20 so you see your pupil did as well as Miss Blodgett's: they had another since that she has not heard from. She went up to music last week, the first time since their voices were tested, and Mr. Abbott read off a long list of names who were excused that morning, among them Mary's, Helen's & Linnie's. Do you understand what that means? None of them know why: perhaps he thinks it of no use for them to try. Edith went to the Wellington Club meeting at Lottie Davis's and stopped to see if your book of quotations was here. Have you heard any thing from Mrs. Fisher yet? Now if you should spend a Sunday in Amherst, don't tease Mrs. H., all the time to take you out to the Agricultural College. (Was that spelled write?) I should think B.H. would let you know if he has received your photo soon. The Unitarians have their fair next week. The entertainment is to be music - they asked Bessie to read but she is not going to.I must stop and get ready for bed. I will try to send a paper and you can get the news from that. I saw Mabel and Elmer ride by to-day. I am afraid Mary is a little 'sweet' on Dwight Hadley: she mentions 'Dwight' quite often, but I say nothing. Is Alice Heath taking the whole course there?
Well good night, with much love, Mama.
[A second letter is enclosed:]
Dear Lucy:-
I am writing going down on the car for I forgot all about you yesterday. Linnie says to tell you that she is studying French "to beat the band." Florence Taylor had a Hallow'en [sic] party. We had an adjective story and bobbed apples and had our fortunes told
athreedotimes. I will tell you more later[.]With love
Mary