Bennington, N.H.
Apr. 21, 1907.My dear Lucy:-
I am very much ashamed of myself for not answering your letter before. The only excuse I have is that I forgot all about it until it was past the time within which you had asked me to write, and I was so busy after that I thought I might as well wait until I had more time, as my answer could do no good for your purpose. You see I was away from home, and the letter was forwarded to me, and I didn't realize how near it was to the time you set for answering it when I received it. I was down at a cousin's of mine in Milford, one where I used to stay a great deal when I was in high school Last summer her husband's book keeper left him and he didn't know where in the world he was to get one, so sent for me to come down until he could get one. This spring he found I was to have a long vacation, so asked me to come down, and give his book keeper a vacation. After she got back we persuaded my cousin to go away visiting and leave me in charge of the house. She has two children, one seven the other four, and besides that her mother, who is eighty four years old lives with her, and two sisters, both semi-invalids. Then she has three roomers. This minute there has been some one sick there just about all the time and Aunt Lucinda was so very ill that they for a long time did not expect her to live. Of course Mrs. Jennison got all tired out, and I suggested that she go away for a rest since I could stay just as well as not. I have always felt as much at home there as in my own home. I have been there so much, and Nell was willing to leave me in charge, so she went. So you see I had quite a good deal to think of and had some excuse for forgetting to answer your letter.
Now I will try to answer some of your questions. I taught this year in the Amherst High School. Gertrude Norcross was there last year as assistant, and back this year as principal. Amherst is only two or three miles from Milford so of course Gertrude went home every week and I went home almost every week, and the rest of the time went over to Milford. The school was a small one, only thirty five pupils, and Gertrude and I the only teachers. We had to work terribly hard, for the school was in pretty poor condition, and we wanted to bring it up. We had just one objection, that is serious objection, to the school and that was the Superintendent. He treated us abominably, and made every thing very hard for us. This spring their money gave out, and we found we were to have six weeks' vacation and during vacation we made up our minds to resign. We had threatened it all the year, every time the superintendent made us disgusted, and that was quite often. Gertrude has a fine position in Abington, about fifteen miles from Boston. There are six assistants besides the principal, submaster music teacher and drawing teacher. I haven't managed to get a position yet, or at least one that I wanted. I have had some grade schools offered me, and different agencies have written me of several fine grade positions, but I wouldn't apply for any of them, for I am bound to ahve a high school or nothing. In Amherst I had a variety of subjects, Algebra, Geometry, French, Bookkeeping and Chemistry.
I hope togo to the class reunion, and if nothing unexpected turns up, shall probably do so, and hope to see you there.
Lovingly,
Lorenia M. Kimball