Gardner, Mass. Gardner Dec. 14 1902.
Dear Lucy,-
I am sorrying you are still forming such a contrast to the outside world but take heart at the part and drop it (not the heart) in the future. I am afraid that you did not succeed in scareing [sic] your sister because there was a ghost of a smile in the midst of the severeness.
The "budding schoolma'am" lost her courage and has been spending the last six weeks in Gardner. In order to be in fashion I have had the grippe and it doesn't let go its grip. I intend to try to go back to school in January. I haven't been on the platform yet, that is, I haven't given my exercise. I found an article in a paper on the "Pretrified [sic] Forests in Arizona" and I intended to give that. The platform exercise is very interesting and one can gain a great deal from it.
I guess the new niece is all right but I do not think that it has a name yet.
I should think that your study of the Bible would be very interesting and instructive also and that there would be a lot of work in preparing the lessons[.] Good success to you in it!
I am very sorry the painter was not there and that his pictures could not include the bridal couple.
I suppose you are beginning to get acquainted with many of your schoolmates. How does Helen enjoy it?
I suppose you are almost buried up in snow and have endured some pretty cold days without freezing, I hope. I think there is very nearly a foot of snow on the ground and just think it kept me home from church to day.
Well good success and a merry merry Christmas to you.
Your cousin
Elsie A. Lamb.Hope to see you soon.