[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]Templeton, Dec. 14, 1902.
Dear Lucy,
I have not received a letter from you this week and am wondering whether you are sick, or have been so busy that you could not get time to write: perhaps you are frozen - the weather has been cold enough. Have they plenty of coal there? I don't expect to be able to get any, or it is very doubtful. Mr. Johnson has written two or three times and hears nothing in reply, and he does not think we shall be able to get any. None of the coal dealers about here have much coal and of course they will supply their old customers first, and I am not an old customer only of Charlie's and he is out of the business. Moses drew my wood last week, so I have plenty of that, only some of it
doeswill not burn very well: but I think we can keep comfortable, and do not worry about it.Your Grandmother has been quite sick. I did not know if it till she was getting better. She was dizzy and had the Dr. every day for a week or more. I asked him about her and he said she was quite sick - he thought there was some grip about it - he said it would be nothing alarming in a younger person - and that she was really better, but is still in bed. It was so cold in her room that the Dr. brought her down stairs to the sitting room, in his arms. I shall try to call on her some day this week if the weather is so that I can.
Mary was sent home (the other pupils too) twice last week - once because it was so cold, and the next day because it was so stormy Mr. Osborne was afraid the Templeton scholars would not be able to get home if they waited till the usual time. Mary is almost sick with a cold - she did not go to S.S. today, but intends to go to school tomorrow - she has just made some taffy to cure it but did not have as good success as usual. I can eat it all right though. She sat for her photographs Thursday afternoon - we have the proofs and they are pretty good, but not as good as I wish. I will send you one that I am sure we shall not use. I am afraid they will not be done by Christmas.
Do you remember what book we sent to Arthur last year? I have bought "Tom Brown's School Days" (I am not sure as that is just right) and now it seems as if we sent him that last year. I went to Gardner to go to Towne & Whitney's [a photography studio] with Mary, so looked around a little, but did not have money so that I could buy much. I hope to go again this week, and Carrie is going to Worcester Tuesday or Wed. and she can get some things for us. I saw Annie in G- the day I went - she said she was so disappointed that she did not see you. I gave her to understand that you was much disappointed too. She inquired when you were coming home and hoped to see you then. She came over one day to borrow some Delineators - she is going to have a new waist but I don't know what. I thought I saw Edith and her mother ride by one day - if it was they, Mrs. B- was driving and Edith was much wrapped up. I wondered if she had not been to to [sic] the dentist's.
Now, I have a little to say about your new hat. Would you want to risk leaving Carrie get one for you at Worcester, if she found one that she thought would be better than to have yours pressed? If you feel afraid to have her and would rather wait till you come home, say so. She might find one at a lower price there as it is getting late in the season. If you wish to have her try, she will want to know what you want - style & color. I rather think the beavers are low crown and wide rim, but am not sure. If we could not use our things should you like an all black one - some of those look very stylish. You must send word about it as soon as you get this, and if she has gone I will send word to her - you can write a card if nothing more - she only plans to stay till Friday. If there is any thing else you wish her to get you must let her know at once - perhaps you can do as well as well [sic] at Holyoke if you get time to go.
I had a letter from Esther and she thinks you would rather wait to call on Elisha & wife as they are going to move into a new house in a few weeks. I imagine you will be willing to wait. I must close this now. I shall feel anxious till I hear that you are all right. I think the storm may have delayed the letter. Be sure to write a few lines to let us know what you wish.
Take good care of yourself and keep warm some way.
Much love,
Mama.