A Letter Written on May 22, 1904

Chicago, May 22, 1904.

Dear Cousin Ella.

I dont [sic] think I owe you any letter, still I may, for I usually do owe all my friends one. But my main reason for writing to-night, is to ask you if you can stand having one come with my trunk to your home, once more, for a short visit. There may be reasons why it will not be convenient - and if so, I shall never forgive you, if you dont tell me so.

I really ought not to try to go east, this year, but Alice is going to be so disappointed - not to have me come for their commencement week, that I have decided to try to go for a little while - but any visiting I do will have to be before that time. Perhaps I wrote Carrie that she is planning to bring her last years room-mate home with her for a visit - and did I tell you that Gertrude expects an addition the first of August - I really cannot tell whether I wrote of the summer's campaign or not. But as you can see it will be quite nescessary [sic] for me to be here when A. gets home with her company-

I am trying now to get ready to start about the last day of May - and stop off for a day or so with Alice - and then visit my friends until about June 17th when the "fracas will begin" Alice says_

We are not through housecleaning yet - and I am not though [sic] with the repairs for the other people - the sewing is not where I wanted to have it, but the saying is "Where ther's [sic] a will, ther'es [sic] a way" - and I hope to get a great done this week_ It has been so cold here, we could not dispense with fires, so everyone is late about cleaning this year. Today has been quite warm, so everyone is sweltering in their winter clothing_

Alice Wheelock has just been in for about half an hour this even. She came in to see an old neighbor, who had to go to a hopital [sic] for an opperation [sic] - and brought us both such quantities of violets. I can imagine how beautiful your yard must be just now, with the trees all in bloom -

After dinner Florence and I went over on the south side, to call on Annie Flint - and several people on the car, were loaded down with wild crabapple blossoms and wild flowers - When we got there they were all out_ It is miles over there and I had'nt [sic] been over since last fall_ so I was very sorry - not to see them all. Edward's daughter came home from Mexico quite unexpectedly this spring_ but she took cold and they had sent her back again before I could get over there.

My ankle is'nt [sic] as good as it was before I sprained it. I suppose I am not as careful as I ought to be.

What a terrible fire they had in Philspaton - or somewhere out in that direction. and following so soon after the one in Templeton - How is the T. St. railway getting on? I see Mr Blodgett is out of it.

How does Cous. Lizzie seem since she came home? I cannot get reconciled & the thought of not having any Margaret There when I go to Templeton. How they must miss her at Otter River, as they come here again. Alice wrote she went over to see Lucy not long ago, but she was out, so she did'nt [sic] see her - I am glad she has been well enough to go on, and that she likes it. Ask her if she has ever met a girl from C. [Chicago] Sarah Arnold She is a freshman I think - one of our church girls. How is your barberry bush? Mine is dead, but five maple trees are alive. I expect you have hard work keeping Caroline in doors at all, at this season of the year.

Now, you be sure to tell me if it is'nt [sic] perfectly convenient for you to have me come.

With love to you all, I am

Your aff. cousin
Harriet N. Newton.