A Letter Written on Nov 18, 1903

Templeton, Mass.
Nov. 18, 1903.

Dear Lucy:-

Your letter with its contents arrived in proper condition. I was very glad to hear that you are comeing [sic] home for the Thanksgiving vacation. I was afraid that you would want to stay there this year. I will try and see you before you go back. [change of ink] My pen writes horrible. I have tried another one and two pencils besides. Mama is laughing at me and my temper is sadly ruffled. Everybody uses my pen and then I can't write anything.

They have had one more accident on the street-cars. They ran over & instantly killed a Polander who was intoxicated and who had laid down to rest on the track. One of the motor-men was heard to boast that he had just run his car from E. Templeton to Gardner and back in friteen [?] minutes. A man started to get on the car in W. Fardner one evening at the same time papa was getting on. Papa overheard the following.

Man. "Where is the insurance office in Gardner."

Conduct. "The insurance office!!["]

Man. "Yes, the accident life insurance office. I am going to Athol on this car, and I thought it would be advisable to get my life insured."

Baby has got six teeth now. She cut two at the same time, and O! how fretful she was.

Mama went to the last Wellington Club meeting. It was held at Mrs. Giffins Prof. Townsend spoke on the Philippines. Mama said he spoilt a good lecture by repeating a great deal. One of the interesting things he spoke of was how a great many of the Chinese became Catholics who lived in the Philippines[.] It appears that one Whong a very rich merchant like all Chinese worshiped Buddha and read the teachings of Confucius. One day three men appeared in his door who were dressed in red and had red faces. They told him that he was to be killed right away. The Chinese quaked and trembled in his shoes. Just as they raised the knife an angel appeared in the window and told Whong if he would become a Catholic the three man who would fall to the ploor floor and he could then chop their heads off. So a Catholic he became, and built a church at once.

I received a letter from Nellie in which she spoke of hearing from you. Has she answered your letter yet.

Mrs. J. O. Winch went Friday to the Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston to have an operation preformed [sic] in her ear. A while ago a sore formed in her head and then broke. Since then she has been gradually loseing [sic] her hearing. Dr. Johnson made an examination and decided than an operation would be necessary[.] But at the infirmary they told her an operation was useless. That she would lose her hearing any way.

Everbody [sic] has the whooping-cough in the village. The Rambour infants have had it and now the Johnson's have it, and I don't know how many more people.

Rev. Rambour is takeing [sic] his vacation. I think it must be a much needed one no doubt.

Well, this is enough for now, as to[o] much news are apt to excite you.

With love,
Edie.