Templeton, Mass.,
Sept. 20, 1906.Dear Sister:-
If I write to-night I don't know what I shall have to write about Sunday but I'll run the risk. I offer you congratulations on your great age and hope that this coming year may be a successful one. If I don't write so you can read it please send it back & I'll try once more but you see my more finger on my right has fearful and wonderful dimensions. Last night I picked some gladiolas and as I arranged them I pulled off the blossoms which had gone by & laid them on the table. When I picked them up I felt something sharp on my finger but did not realize for a second that I was clutching an angry bumble-bee. He did however and defended himself to the best of his ability after which he flew into the box of borox from which my aunt after repeated efforts succeeded in driving him. He had changed color somewhat & he found that when he was covered with borax he could not move as easily as usual. That is the sorrowful tale. But the end is not yet & bids fair to be long distant - at least until my finger gets back into its normal size & condition.
I believe I did not properly describe the minister we had Sunday. All I could think of when I saw him was a tombstone. He had black hair; his face was rather white; and he had a very disconsolate expression. His manner of delivery was unspeakable. Words cannot describe it. He acted as if it were a very mournful occasion. He was cross eyed so I never knew whether he was looking at me or at the other fellow. He had no notes and instead of talking right off as ministers generally do, he had evidently committed it to memory but he kept his eyes fixed on the Bible & acted just as if he were reading it from that. The big organ did not work and the choir sat down by the smaller one, so cousin Mary distributed her children. Margaret sat with Miss Sawyer, Rachel with Marion, Edith with Cousin Bessie. Once when the minister made a very impressive pause Edith sighed so you could hear here [sic] all over the church. Auntie said she wanted to whisper to me, "Them's my sentiments too." Cousin Mary got to coughing and had to go out. When she came back she sat down by Miss Sawyer. Then one twin got up and went back to her mother & then the other twin went. The relatives were slightly amused.
The other day in Chemistry Mr. MacNamara asked John Heywood why something was so. "oh - because", said John. "Oh don't say that," Mr. MacNamara said. "That's a woman's reason. Don't get into a woman's ways." Wasn't that terrible?
Carrie has some and gone. I went up to the Burnham's Tuesday morning and then we both went down to school. Carrie stayed until the sixth period. I went up there after school and stayed about an hour. I talked some of staying overnight there but they were going to be so busy that I thought I had better not even though Carrie begged. I got a postal from here [sic] to-day, telling me her address. She says there are "girls & girls." She is looking fine and has had a pleasant summer. She was dreading the starting in at college but I guess she will be all right when she has been there a little. She wants to board herself. Gertrude Blanchard, her roomate [sic], does & I shouldn't be surprised if the Burnhams consented to her doing it. Mrs. Wright & Ruth are fine, Carrie said. Miss Wallace called her up at the telephone the night she got there.
I must stop for I don't have a study period to-morrow so you [know] I am busy Fridays if no other time. I have French, Draw., Geom., two periods of Chemistry & then Drawing again. I guess Roger has forgotten me. Dwight came over to school to see me. He said he would write to me. Isn't that fine?
With love,
Molly.