[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]Templeton, Feb. 15, 1903.
Dear Lucy,
I really thought I was going to get the work done early today and have a little more time, but at the last things all went backward and it is the same old way. Mary is having a truly dreadful time (in her estimation) with her latin and I stopped to see if I could help her any, but I am too 'gone by' to do much. They have had to give up their old books for the Preps. and take others in their places of course, these are different, they have not learned the vocabularies in these, they don't know where to find things, and they are harder any way, so it is all pretty bad. Mary has been weeping, and thinks she shall drop latin - says Mr. Osborne does not explain it &c. She was not going to eat any dinner but I told her she would have to go to bed if she did not, so she ate some oysters. The trouble is she is about sick and it would be better for her if she could let lessons go and rest for a week. She has had a bad cold for a week and it is not nearly well yet - then Thursday night she began to have nose-bleed and it bled several times Fri. and bled considerably - and besides there are other troubles, so you see she is not much to blame for crying: she coughs quite a little and is getting rather used up. Perhaps it will be as well not to say much about this when you write.
What do you say? Shall we let her go to work for her board at Burton Kendall's mother's? Mr. Osborne called Mary out one day and asked her if any of the T-n girls would like to go there. Mrs. K- is not very well and would like to get a nice girl to help her a little. Mr. O- thought it would be an easy place as Mrs. K- does some work. Mary said Linnie would like very much to go, as she would be near Bertha and Bates, but I don't think she is going.
Did Mary write you about the vocabulary match last week? She and Johnson were captains, and they did not get through so neither side beat, but Johnson had most on his side when they stopped: when they "spelled down" Mary stood longest and had not missed when the time was up. Mary is going to write to Carrie to-night and I am to tell you she will write some other time and thank you for her valentine. Helen is here now about her algebra. I hope she will cheer Mary up a little.
I had a note from Margaret to-day and she said they went to Springfield and saw Bessie on the N. Y. train - that Mr. Nickerson met her in N. Y. and helped her about her baggage - then she went out and spent the night with them (Mr a& Mrs. N-) and saw her on the boat, the steamship Havana. It was a terrible windy day that she started on, but maybe it was not so bad where she was. The wind blew down chimney so here that I did not try to keep a fire in the forenoon.
I have had a very quiet week - no one has been here and I have not accomplished much - I did make a pair of trousers - it was make them or go without, as I tore up those I wore last week. I went to Gardner Friday to buy the goods for Mary's blouse, and exchange a wrapper that I bought the week before that was too small. I got a larger size and did not examine it as I supposed it was the same quality: when I looked at it after I got home I found it was 'very thin', so now I am disgusted and think I shall change back again. I had to buy the goods for Mary last week or pay more. I shall not hurry to make it.
Uncle Isaac has been to church today and Mary to S.S. Mary said Ada & Mattie both came to Wellington Club Friday afternoon and left your Grandma alone, so she must be much better. Russel is better - I don't know whether he and Karl have measles yet or not. I have not heard of any new cases of measles for some time - we may escape them yet. Ruth is out and I think went to church today. Have you heard that Dwight Seaver is sick with typhoid fever in a hospital, in Cleveland?
I think your present to Edith as pretty as any thing you could get: if the little dress was good it was very cheap. I paid $.50 for sacque I got. I don't know as it is very fine, but I thought it pretty and I should have been pleased with one like it for one of you. I have not sent it yet but shall try to this week.
Mr. Braithwaite wants to get a chance to work for Mr. Rhodes Knight with his team. Mr. K- has been looking for a house. I don't know what success he has had, but I hope he will find a house & barn. I am afraid you will have to study harder than you are able, by what you say. That will not pay. I hope you will have a beautiful time the 21st and I shall want to hear how 'we' enjoyed it, what 'we' did & all about it. Is the sleigh ride given up?
How did the cake pan out. Amber has been very 'cranky' lately - much inclined to bite and scratch - Carl left him a kidney yesterday much to Mary's surprise. I must stop. Will try to send you a paper. Better save the paper. I shall send -
Much love,
Mama.