Templeton, Mass.,
DecJan. 28, '03.Dear Lucy:-
It seems to me that you are rather inclined to stay in bed longer than there is time to, and therefor [sic] you go to lessons in great haste. What is the meaning of it?
I should think you would be dreaming of the laboratory, and also of chlorine. It has such an entrancing odor. Attar of roses is nothing in comparision. [sic]
It is to[o] bad you are going to lose two of your nicest teachers. If it were two you didn't like, then there would be some sense in it.
Yes, you told me you intend to take up Astronomy. You will have to do some rubber-necking I suppose. And when you come home I suppose your neck will be three feet long. Don't get excited, and fall off the elevated places you will stand on, and then see stars in the wrong place.
It seems to me that you had to not better go on that sleigh-ride. Too much frivolity, my dear, is a very bad thing, and sleigh-rideing [sic] is very frivolous. It addles ones brain, and is apt to make one desire a change of scenery.
Flossie has done exceptionally well and the doctors have given her permission to return on Saterday. [sic]
That lecture must have been very interest. I should have enjoyed it very much. I am always interested in anything of that kind.
I have decided on a name. One the first, mama suggested, and the other was one which you suggested. This is the name. Percy Elwin, How do you like it?
I believe they have named your twin cousins Rachel and Edith. How do you like that? I don't. Not for twins any-way.
Yesterday Papa and I went to Gardner in the after-noon. We had a lovely ride, and I did a few errands. Combined business and pleasure. It was rather cold comeing [sic] back as the wind blew straight in our faces, but then, I did not particularly mind.
Friday after-noon, mama and I went to ride. It was a rather windy after-noon as you can no doubt remember. Templeton is very breezy. Rogue accompanied us. When in front of Dr. Greenwood's the wind came along and blew my glasses off of my nose into the street. Mama instantly stopped the team, and she and I began to hunt (I had neither cord or chain attached to them.) Well, very soon, a drummer of quite a portly appearance came up and enquired if he might be of any assistance. So they hunted and hunted for half an hour or more, and finally
leftgave it up as a bad job. Then of course we looked around for Rogue, and he had taken a small stroll. So we whistled and called for him. At least hehadappeared on the scene. Then just as we started for home. Mr. Drummer's derby blew off, and away that went. We finally recovered it, and we came home. Next noon Willie Hawkes arrived up with my glasses. So after all, we recovered our property.Pa and Andrew went to the Union. They reported a fine time. Four weeks from last night Mr. and Mrs. John Brooks and Andrew are on the committee. I do not know what they intend to get up, I am sure.
Time seems to go very slowly. I wish that spring were here, but after all
theythere isn't a very long time to wait only a few months longer and the grass will be green and the birds singing and I shall be so glad.The two little girls over to Mr. Le Clair's have got some kind of a skin disease which I suppose has been caused by the filth they have lived in.
Mr. & Mrs. Harry Stanley called yesterday evening. Grace looks about forty. I guess she has to work pretty hard. I told mama that she is foolish to stay with Harry. She has two boarders, beside herself, Harry and the baby. They intend moveing [sic] into their new house this spring. Harry said Mrs. Whittermore did not know what she was going to do, or where she was going to go.
I enclose a little poem which I found. [no longer with the letter] It is very pretty I think. I will try and send it and not leave you to wait a week before you get it.
O, the weather is miserable. Fog, fog, and the snow most all gone, what is left is so dirty. This is dirty weather. Everything seems so muddy.
Charlie Hersey is sick with the grippe. He had to come home and be taken care of.
They have got diptheria [sic] in Baldwinsville. Quite a number of serious cases, too.
Miss Sanderson came up Monday night. She has commenced a very pretty sofa-pillow. It is worked on scrim, and it is awfully pretty. Have you seen any of the. I think I should like to make one, but am quite busy now. I am embroidering a photo-frame of holly leaves and berries for mama, in my spare moments. It is real pretty I think. Miss Sanderson has also decided to make a handkerchief corset-cover. I am going to make one, too; when I get time.
George Nitsche has gone to Cleveland, Ohio, to work in the same place Dwight and Ralph are. I wonder how he will succeed. He is rather odd, and I guess the young men he gets acquainted with are apt to impose on his good-nature, or what-ever one might call it. By the way, wasn't he an old time admirer of yours? or something of that sort?
Well, enough for this write. More nonsense and sense too, next time I write.
Your loving friend
Edie