[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Templeton, Oct. 26, 1905.
Dear Lucy,
I am going to write to you tonight to make sure you get your letter, for we expect Carrie tomorrow night and of course I can not write. I hardly think you will get much of a letter for I am pretty tired. I have been sweeping and dusting besides the usual work and when that was done I had a little ironing to do - a white waist, some collars and three or four other little things - and it got dark before I got them ironed and had to finish by lamp light, which I did not like. And to make the agony worse, part of the time Mary sat and 'fired' questions on Burke at me - I knew nothing about it but I always agreed with her so we got along very well. I have had quite a time doing any ironing - I had Mary's gingham sailor suit, and tried to iron that and a skirt Tuesday, but I had several hindrances and had to finish them in the evening - yesterday I thought I would iron your muslin curtains and my waist and finished up. Uncle Isaac got Ben to carry him to H-n and I thought he would not be home before two, and I would not get dinner till he & Mary got home - I had got nicely commenced on a curtain and he came 0 so I was ironing curtain and getting dinner at the same time and the curtain is not ironed first class but I don't believe you will know the difference by the time it gets to New Salem.
Mary came home much disturbed because she did not tell me before she went to school, that there was a foot-ball game with Fitchburg that afternoon and she wanted to see it - so I told her to hurry and eat her dinner and take the car back and go to it. I thought if she was thoughtful enough not to stay because I did not know, that she ought to go. Roger Johnson got on the car and took her under his wing, took her in to the game and kept with her all the afternoon: so she had a good time, and I am afraid Roger would enjoy himself so much that he will be troublesome: and how about Dwight? Well, I got ready to tackle the other curtain (my dress was not changed) when Edith and Delphine came - they made quite a little call, and Mrs. Parker came while they were here, so I did not get to work till late, and had to finish the curtain by lamplight - and that did not look nice; Don't you think I have had quite a time at it?
It is Wellington Club at Mrs. Higley's tomorrow but I shall not try to go as Carrie is coming. I think I was a week ahead about Frank Winch's marriage - it was last Monday. Fred Winch says it is not Mattie that the girl at New Salem knew - it was Harvey's wife - you remember her name is Goodrich. The Carpenters have moved into Mrs. Batchelder's house. Grace is having a piazza and porch put on the front of her house - it will be an imposing looking building when it is done. I have joined a magazine club - Mrs. Cobleigh was in it, and they asked me to take her place. I don't suppose I shall read them enought [sic] to pay, but think that all of us may - they have Harper's Weekly, Monthly and Bazaar, Outlook and World's Work, Century and McClure's: and I think they said Mr. Pratt puts in the Christian Register - the members are Mrs. Briggs, Mrs. Roundy, Mrs. Parker, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt, Mrs. Abbie Maynard and myself. The Harper's Weekly comes to me first and will be mine to keep - I would rather have had one of the monthly magazines and all the rest would have liked mine to come to them first, but I don't think I will say any thing as I am a new member - they draw lots for the magazines and I suppose some on [sic] drew for me - I was too busy to go as I want to get my work mostly done (for the week) before Carrie comes.
I wish you was coming too. I am afraid you will not have a very good time with your fire - I wish you had a coal stove. You better have your wood cut an extra time and have it short - it will cost a little more, but will last full as long, and you don't want it too long for your stove. You say Mr. C. wants you to teach Psychology. It seems to me, by what you write, that you better have some classes in spelling and mental arithmetic instead of any such study. Keep up your courage. I don't believe you will quite freeze or blow away. Don't let
tDorothy and Mary Shaw take up your time so you have to sit up to make it up - it is not right they should.Mary's four days of vacation has commenced. The Gardner teachers go to a teacher's convention at Worcester. I think you will have a nice time at Mt. Holyoke if you go, and it is not likely you will have so good a chance again. If you are not likely to get your pay before you go I will send you a little for you will not want to get short. Nellie Miles has been having to get a bad time bleeding at the nose, but she is out, so there is notheing [sic] serious yet. I must stop and rest a little while before I go to bed. Marvin Miles & family have moved in the Rasey house where Fred & Mattie lived. Take good care of yourself, and don't work too hard.
Much love,
Mama.