Templeton, Mass.,
Jan. 13, 1907.Dear Sister:-
I don't know of an earthly thing to write about since Mama has written about the only exciting thing that has happened this week - namely my telephoning. Wasn't that the greatest? I began to wish he was in Templeton about the fourth time I was going up in town. I had hard work for it was quite a distance. After I had been there a few minutes the telephone rang and Mrs. Johnson said they wanted me. I supposed they were all ready for me but when I got there the fellow at Central wanted to know where I was expecting a telephone from. Weren't they smart? They hadn't made a record of the call.
Monday I got a postal from the Worcester P.O. saying that there was a letter held there for me for postage. So I sent on a stamp and for the next two days waited to see whether it was an advertisement. Wouldn't I have been mad if it had been? It proved to be a long letter from Cousin Emma. I don't know of course whether she forgot to put a stamp on or whether it was lost off. She thanked us for the book, said that she hadn't had time to read it but that the pictures were lovely. I thought by the sound of her letter she was rather blue.
Friday I went skating down on Burns Pond with Helen and Dorothy Winthrop and Marcus went with us. A little while after Theo and Edwin came and then Rollin[.] The
nice was pretty good. I hadn't had my skates on before for just about two years so I didn't get around very well but I found that Dorothy is worse off than I for she can hardly go at all. Helen can skate pretty well. She and I had some great sport. She would push me along backwards. Once my skate caught on something and we landed in an undignified heap. Marcus didn't have his skates [on] him so he would sit on a board and Edwin would catch hold of the front of it with his hockey stick and Teo the back and Marcus would have a fine ride. The ice along the edge was thin. Winthrop got his legs wet and when we started home Helen & I each got one foot wet.I have my muffler nearly down [sic] and expect to begin on Mama's this week.
Mr. Skerrye's two boys were at Sunday School and Auntie said she thought they must be good lively chaps for she saw one run his fingers down Harold Cobleigh's neck.
Mirable dictu. Auntie took a Sunday School class - Dorothy, Helen and Nellie. She said that Nellie couldn't read worth a cent. She was reading something about girding his loins and she called it lions.
Mr. Skerrye amused me very much. He said just before he begun his German that he would say something before he forgot it. He said it not as a criticism but as a suggestion. He thought it a good plan to have plenty of fresh air in public audience rooms. He thought that people could listen better & he knew he could preach better. (It was terribly hot and close there to-day.) I wonder how Mr. Miles would like that.
Auntie couldn't get but one flannel, so you must plan to be cold every other week. Perhaps they will send up another so your pitiful condition may be relieved.
Mrs. Parker has been
the pastsick since Wed. morning. She has gastritis (if you know what that is.) She is much better to-day. Friday Auntie went over to Grace's to the Whist Club. I have read Janet; Her winter in Quebec by the author of the Teddy books. It is great.The cars ran all day
toyesterday to Athol. Mirable dictu. Auntie went to Leominster and got home only two hours late. The Fitchburg cars were late too.She says to tell you that you guessed right about the book - that he was a girl just as you thought and they lived happily ever after.
Marion bought [sic] your book up to-day. Linnie came around for a few minutes last Sunday, but she had forgotten it. I suppose she went back Tues. Ralph has got his arm out of the sling. Ted Hersey has been at church the last two Sundays. Here is a little verse which I thought very expressive at the time for mid years.
"And so she didn't hurry,
Nor sit up nights to cram;
Nor get the blues nor worry,
But - she failed in her exam!["]Must read some more.
With love,
Molly. X X