[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Templeton, Sept. 20, 1906.
Dear Lucy,
When you receive this I suppose you will be a year older than you are today. I hope you will have a happy birth-day, and many other happy days and birthdays. I am sorry that I have nothing more substantial than good wishes, but if you will have patience, for a little while, I hope to be able to send you a small gift. I expected to go to G- this week but last Thursday night I began to have a cold and still have it, though it is much better - it has been mostly a head cold, so it has been more uncomfortable than dangerous.
We have put up five cans of bartletts to day and want to put up some more. we [sic] have some nice ones and wish you could have some of them. John Brooks came with his team, yesterday, and carried off the apples and pears that were on the ground, to feed out. we [sic] kept them so long for Moses that many of them were spoiled. The fruit man took a bushel of my bartletts and half a bushel went to the Inn, and I would like to sell another half bushel. Do you have any pears, apples, or peaches? Have you got to go to this place for your board all year? That will not be nice in bad weather. How do you come out on your raise of wages? Do you have to pay more for board? I hope you will like Mrs. Taylor and that every thing will be pleasant for you.
I don't know about Mr. W- calling at the school house, even if he d-d-didn't know you was there. I think Miss Bliss will have to keep watch of you. I have not done any sewing or much of any thing else for a week - I don't know when I am going to get anything done. Lizzie Matthews may visit us soon - it is not certain. Some of the boys are making such a noise that I can't think. Of course you know that the Rough and Ready went to Westminster Tuesday and took second prize. Don't we feel big? Fred Winch is going to move to Gardner at once and Mrs. Pratt is to have the tenement. Mrs. Parker saw her and Mason one night, and Mason says that now she (his mother) does not have to worry any more about a tenement, she is worrying how she can get her piano into the new tenement. It will be nice for Alice wont it? So handy to the Hawkes family. I think Mason goes back next week, but I don't know whether he knows where the money to get him through is to come from. I hope he does. Mr. Cutting died Tues. afternoon and the funeral is tomorrow. I don't know at what time or where, or if it is a public funeral. I should think they would have it in the church.
I believe Mary has told you that Walter and Clara Aiken have a little girl. Its or her name is to be Sybil Annie. Dr. Johnson has an automobile - just think of it: an auto and a new baby all in one summer. Mr. Parker's sister and nephew are visiting there. Uncle Isaac is feeling better but not very well. I think Edith's uncle is here - we think she just went by in an auto.
I think I had a number of things to tell you and ask you, but I can't think of any of then; [sic] my head is about as good as a pumpkin. Bring your white skirt home when you come and I will make it shorter. Must get supper.
Much love,
Mama.