A Letter Written on Feb 4, 1903

Templeton, Mass.
Dec Feb. 4. 1903.

Dear Lucy:-

Your letter in company with two letters and two papers reached me on Tuesday. So that it wasn't at all lonesome comeing. [sic]

I suppose that by this time you or the examinations are finished satisfactorily. I have no doubt as to which it is. I thought of you Tuesday after-noon, and supposed you were in the midst of Bible exams. As long as you are so well versed in Bible, here are a y few riddles which whose answers may be found in the Bible. Prehaps [sic] you have heard some of them. You can think up the answers or try and find them and tell me when you write. I will send the answers next time I write.

1. Which are the two smallest insects mentioned in the Scripture?

2. How is it that Methuselah was the oldest man, when he died before his father?

3. Why are sinners like corn and potatoes?

4. Why is a Gardner milk-man like the fish that swallowed Jonah?

5. What did Adam and Eve do when they were expelled from Eden?

6. Why was Herodias' daughter the fastest girl mentioned in the New Testament?

Now, are you going to finish these, or are they going to finish you?

I am afraid that I should have hardly been able to understand Prof. Francke's letter lecture for I know nothing of German. Do they have "The Day of Prayer." on account of the approaching examinations

That will be a bit of home. no doubt, for you to see Miss Mathews.

Yes, I have had a varied experience in sleigh-rideing. [sic] When Mr. Clark and I used to go sleighing we would discuss Astronomy, Art, Spiritualism, etc., when Mr. Berry and I used to go sleighing we discussed Dancing, Theatres, Football etc. when Mr. L. and I went sleighing we discussed very little about anything. There are a few experiences.

Mama and I are reading up Ruskin. To-day I read a short article on his life and books. We are going to read a few of his books. Have you ever read any of his works?

Flossie came home on Monday. She is up and around the house. The doctors told her she must be very careful of herself. Papa says she is very thin, and looks as if she were twenty-four, instead of not being quite seventeen. She will be seventeen in April.

The measles are haveing [sic] a fine time in town. Here is a list of the ones who have them. Walter Henshaw, Florence Taylor, Mildred Cook, Harold Aiken, Harold Riggs and Warren Willoughby. Also quite a few more whose names I do not remember.

The new organ for our church is to be used for the first time Thursday evening. I suppose there will be a crowd go[ing]. As everybody has been invited. Well, it is a much needed article. The other was in bad shape. I really don't see how Rob ever managed to play on it.

Harly Smith has gone to Cleveland, O., to work in the photograph room of the Brown Hoisting Co., I am very glad. Prehaps it will be his salvation. It is the best thing that could possibly happen to him, in my opinion. He started on Monday night of this week.

Chessie Robbins has joined the Wellington Club. Mrs. Balcom was one of four who were picked out to go as delegates to the Athol's Woman's Club. Mama went down to Mrs. Brooks' Friday after-noon to the meeting. She reported a fine time. Mrs. Dickerson's paper on "Home Science" was very fine, as also was Mrs. Parkhurst's on Food Adul[t]eration. The twins packed off to Mrs. Lowell.

Mary Weer, if report is true, was married about a week ago. I do not know who, to, I am sure. Papa said, "Some fab Irishman." It was very private, for I have heard nothing about it until papa told us to-day. What a failure her life is? She seemed to be so ambitious, and she was so bright. It seems to me she would have succeeded in almost half a dozen vocations. But when she commenced to work in the hotel, her ambitions seemed to have vanished. I think it was bad company. The influence of girls whose only aim in life was to have a good time and a fellow.

Yesterday was papa's birthday. So papa took us to the theatre instead of buying oranges and candy. The play was "Utah," and it was a good one. Not to[o] much love-making, very little sensationalizm, [sic] and intercepted with good hits. The specialities between the acts were fine. One of them was a magician. The most interesting thing he done was to take an ordinary silk handkerchief lay it on the fllor then to go away and call it to him. Telling it to waltz. It rose up and seemed to assume the shape of a nun, and then proceeded to waltz toward him. It was absolutely ghostly. To see that handkerchief wal[t]zing toward him, looking like some diminutive nun returned from the land of spirit.s They got off several jokes on the S.G.F. Club, who were present in a body. They were also some grave-yard epitaphs. Here are one or two, "Here lies a man from Otterriver
Who died from a pain in his liver

"This is the grave of Joseph Frost."
He was my third husband.
Whose [sic] going to be my fourth?
(This would do nicely for some of grandpa's wives.) tombstones)

"Here lies a man from Parker's Mill
Who died to get rid of paying his doctor's bill.["]

Your loving friend
Edie.