[Although the letter seems to be dated Jan 1905, the envelope's postmark dates this to Jan 1906, making this a classic example of forgetting to increment the date in the first month of a new year. Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]
Templeton, Mass.,
Jan. 28, 1905. [sic]Dear Lucy:-
I'm sure that I don't know of anything to write about & even if I could think of any thing, I haven't much time. All I had left to do to-day was to write my essay & my next book-review, copy an original story & read fifty-eight pages of English. It is nearly three & all I have done is my English.
I have been to church & wore my new suit. Bessie came & in both church & Sunday school we got to laughing so that we "nearly burst." In church Bessie's locket kept opening with a little snap. As fast she would shut it, it would open. Then the Maynard baby performed. He talked & he whispered. Once Bessie looked up just in time to see him grab something from his mother & start off downstairs as fast as he could, his mother in pursuit. During the last hymn he walked around & leaned over until I expected to see him go head first. You know those lamps that are in the corners & have a rod across to hold them. Well, Master Herbert took hold of the rod & shook it. Then he was pleased to see the lamp sway. Alice Pratt said that he had a cricket up there & she thought that someone would get that on his or her head. Mr. Nichols preached & I think that he was amused at some things that he saw.
(Lucius has been here & I sent him home. I said I had a lot of things to do. A few minutes after he went I went out into the "chicken" & ate my oysters. How's that? I did have lots to do - more than I can get done but I must eat.) I made some fudge & it turned out dandy.
Bessie is working down in the printing-office in Gardner, folding something, I know not what. She works after school & Saturdays. I guess it won't last very long. Carrie is much better. I went up there Tuesday night. She was awfully sick when first taken. They were afraid of scarlet fever. She was dreadfully weak when I saw her but is getting stronger I suppose she is coming to school to-morrow. Mildred Thasher, a measle contemporary is back at School. Addie Brewer has them. Drake is sick & has been out for a week. Lucius has been giving me Alumni notes which perhaps you would be interested in Helen Estey is working in the Leominster library. Leon Parcher '04 is at Tufts Dental College. Lawrence Cushing is at the Worcester Tech. Isaac Howe & Earnest Kendall is [sic] at Bryant & Stratton's Business College. Bates is working at a photographer's in Worcester. The Tech. boys had a vacation last week as it was mid year exams.
I had the pleasure of speaking in Rhetoricals Wed. & I live to tell the story. I know not how I said it but I got through it. Auntie & I went to the Union. It was a Ladies' Minstrel Show & was great. Mrs. Burnheimer, Florence Taylor, Miss Horton, Minnie Seaver, Lena Farrington, Grace Stanley, Ruth Stevens were in it. There were one or two others but I don't know who. Mrs. Dr. Johnson was the leader I think perhaps. I think I heard someone say so. Harold Seaver & Charlie Scollay sang to-gether. Charlie was
jusdressed as a little negro girl. Just think of that! Harold asked Charlie when he loved him best & Charlie said he couldn't tell for he "loved him all the time." Charlie would roll his eyes around. At the end of the song they kissed each other & of course that brought down the house. They acted as if they wanted to get it over as soon as possible.You just ought to see Jimmy Hawkes. You know his face is white & thin[.] Well he is growing a coal black beard almost all over his face. He has left his eyes, nose, and mouth out but that is about all. He is a perfect fright. Auntie has seen him walking around but didn't know him. Mason was home to-day & I think he is sprouting a mustache but am not positive. The little Wheeler baby at East Templeton has the measles. Cousin Bessie was up Tuesday. She brought me an awfully pretty ribbon. She is going to send up a green flannel waist of her[s] that she is tired of. Now, as long as I want to write some on my book review I will stop but will try to write a little more during the week. Hope you had a good time at the Pratts.
With love X X X
X X X X X X X X Molly.P.S. Do you
theremember the inscription on Mary Lyon's tomb? If so please send it as soon as you get this letter for I am writing an essay about Mt. Holyoke & would like it very much. The essay has got to be passed in Wed. or Thurs. Just write a postal.With love,
Molly.