[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]Templeton, Dec. 17, 1902.
Dear Lucy,
I received your note to-day and just skimmed through it and gave it to Aunt Carrie to take with her to read: she was late in getting ready to go to W-r and had not time to read it before she started. I don't know what she will do about the hat and she may not do any thing - she may find she can do quite as well about here. How should you like a black hat with a white plume? After she went away I finished the work and fixed up and took the 8-30 car for E- T-n, and called on your Grandmother. I found her sitting up and very comfortable. I think she had sat up all day, or since she got up in the forenoon - and she can walk a few steps without help. Mattie says she has an appetite but is very careful what she eats. She is gaining well now and is likely to be as well as ever if nothing new happens. It is her birth-day and I carried her a little bottle of lavender salts, hoping she might like to smell of it when her head felt badly. I saw Ada a few minutes in the store, and she was well as usual.
About things for Christmas, we have planned like this - to give yours and Mary's photos and a calendar to Warren & Ada together, Mary talks of making a blotter for Warren but that is not certain, your pictures to Grandma & Aunt Mattie together, that picture frame Carrie bought in Phil. to Aunt Mattie, a little medicine glass like that of Uncle Isaac (which I have broken) to Grandma, and I will send her a little grape juice or wine - we thought that would answer nicely, but if you want any thing more you can get it there. Mary is to give Uncle Isaac a medicine glass, if Carrie can find some, I have got nothing for him yet, and I dont [sic] know what to get - I can think of nothing for you unless you get him one of those little black neck-ties, just a little bow that fasten[s] on to a collar button they should not cost more than a quarter - I would not pay more - perhaps you will see some thing you will like better - I have nothing planned for Aunt Charlotte, unless we send the photos that would do for you and Mary and maybe I can find something if I can get to Gardner - I have a cold started and don't know how it will be about getting there.
I will send you a list of what Mary wants and you will see you will have to choose for yourself. She wants first, a camera (a good one)
an operagolf cape, a gold neck chain, a good umbrella, Five Little Peppers Abroad, a Harvard pin, and I can't tell whether there were any more or not - that is enough - I have not got any thing yet.I suppose Mary has written about Auntie. I don't know as this will help you much, but you will know 'where you are at.' You must do as you like about trunks - if you bring the small one you better bring the grip - you can put it in the trunk to come home: but bring the big one if you rather. I hope you will find what you want in Holyoke.
Ned Sargent died Monday of heart trouble and the funeral was in the E- T-n church to-day. It is very sudden and sad - he was not quite thirty.
I will close, with much love,
Mama.