[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Templeton, Nov. 15, 1903.
Dear Lucy,
We reached home Wed. all right, and I suppose you did though I have not heard anything about it. I am going to write rather a short letter tonight, as I saw you Wed. & expect to see you so soon again. I was all right after my trip except that I was a little lame, but am all over that I think Carrie seemed more tired than I, but she went to Gardner the next afternoon with Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Bourn & others, and attended meetings at the Unitarian church there and did not get home till 10-30 in the evening I think she was tired Friday. She had a letter from Bessie saying that they reached Plainfield all right, about 5.30, so they got there about the same time we got home. Carrie went up last night and told Mrs. Batchelder about her letter and how we went with them as far as Springfield &c. Miss Ardelia Batchelder is visiting Mrs. B- now.
Uncle Isaac, Carrie and Mary went to church today - for some reason, I don't know what, there was no service at the Orthodox church and a good many of them were at our church. Ruth Manning was there and went into Sunday School with Mary. Don't you think Benjamin must be out of his head to permit any such thing as that? Ruth was going to Gardner High with Mary one day Thanksgiving week but her school is going to keep so she cannot.
I suppose you will get your dress tomorrow. I hope it will be all right but feel a little afraid she would make it too small for your winter clothes, you would have better worn a flannel waist to try it on over. (How is that for english?) If it is not right you better not take it back till after you have been home, (unless it is so bad you don't want to keep it) for I am afraid you would not get it back soon enough to wear home.
Have you decided which way you will come home, if you will stop at Athol or come to Otter River? Let us know and let us know what time you will get off and what car you will take Carrie made an appointment with Dr. Jewett for you for Wed., Nov. 25, at 11 A.M., so if you have not already written to him you will not need to. Bring home all you can do with out till Christmas that need washing: Carrie says you can take her white waists back and wear till they are dirty, as she will not wear them and in that way you can save yourself washing. How should you like to give Mary your blue flannel waist with the white cross stitching, and you have a new green waist to go with your new suit?
I have not been to H-n yet and don't know when I shall go. I hope soon if at all: but we have found the sink barrel has to be dug up and it must be attended to before the ground freezes, so I may not go as soon as I wish. I spoke to Carrie about inviting Lizzie and Fred here for Thanksgiving and she did not seem to approve of it so I don't think I shall invite them. It really would about spoil your visit, and I would rather they would come some other time. I don't think we have any news so I may as well close this. I probably shall not write much, if any next Sunday as you will be home most as soon as you will get the letter. It will not be long now, but two days is a very short time. I hope you did not get tired out Wed. I had a nice time and shall want to go again.
Much love,
Mama.