[Paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Templeton, Jan. 25, 1903.
Dear Lucy,
Your letter did not get here till Sat. night, and you see if it had been very stormy I should not have got it till Mon. You can see the moral, can't you? We have very cold weather most of the time: yesterday I could not get warm till evening, and I groaned all day long. I think I had a little cold or something not quite right, but I am all well today. It snowed this morning, so none of the family went to church: it was all ice before and the snow covered that so it was really unsafe. Mary went to S.S. but thought it pretty hard getting along without slipping down. She said Laura Dinan was there. I did not suppose she would get out so soon.
I intended to write about those twins, and Edith got ahead of me. I think Mary Stone will have her hands full; four and the oldest only three and a half years old: and one between Leland and Margaret besides, that came before its time. The twins are named Edith and Rachel, and one weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz. and the other 6 lbs. 13 oz. I don't think their names go well together, though I like both names. Mamie and the babies were all doing well, the last I heard. Margaret had a letter from Hattie Newton and she said Arthur has a little girl, Dorothy, about four weeks old now. She wrote that Arthur thought he should like it after it go so it looked like a human being. Hattie has had a cold nearly all winter, and besides that she fell on the ice and hurt her elbow badly: little Harriet is well and goes out in all kinds of weather.
I suppose you have not seen any thing of Alice. You wrote about Thurber Sargent's daughter. I had seen in the paper that she was visiting in E- T-n. I heard, a good many years ago, that there was a child, but I did not know if it was true. I think it was born before they were married - she (Mrs. S.) went away for a while, but the child was never brought to E- T-n. I wonder if they invited her or whether she thought she would look them up.
Carrie came home from Boston Tuesday - she went to call on Mrs. Clark, at Ashburnham, Thursday, and Friday she spent the afternoon at Mr. Lord's. He has been gaining but was not quite as well that day, and I have not heard since. Margaret is coming to spend the day Wednesday. She called here one day last week and Mrs. Parker made quite a call one forenoon. A man from Hubbardston has been here twice to buy my timber but I have not sold it yet and I am afraid I shall not at the price I ask.
Carrie got things a little twisted about the things for Edith - she went so suddenly that we had not talked them up as we should. Did you say she had a brush? C- got a brush & comb, very pretty, and a pair of socks. If you don't want either, she can find something in Phil. or you can in Holyoke. The brush & comb are .50 and the socks .25 but those had been marked down. If you don't want either, Mary can send her the socks or I can send them to one of the twins. Please write just what you want to do about the, and do just what you want about them: it will be easy to get something else, if you wish. Don't write any thing about them that you don't want Carrie to read. Carrie plans to start for Phil. Wed. Feb. 4, and thinks she shall reach Springfield at 11-8 and leave at 11-45. If she finds it any different, she will let you know - says she thinks she had to wait an hour last year. If you cannot meet her that day, let us know: she will take a bundle to you if you can meet her.
If your red waist is too shabby to wear, and can be mended, if you send it home at once I will try to mend it and send it back when she goes. I wish you could come home for the week you have no recitations, but have no doubt you will be better off to stay - you can study better and our house is pretty cold, some days - we still have coal but it will not last much longer unless I use that of Carrie's. I should feel badly to do that and have her unable to get any next winter.
Uncle Isaac is well only he has rheumatism in his hand and arm - it pains him badly at night. Benjamin took him out to the Heywood farm in Gardner last Thursday and has invited him to go to Petersham with him this week, so he is getting sleigh rides. I think you get more of the town news than I. I am sorry the storm spoiled your ride. Will they go if we have more good sleighing? I hope you will have a fine time, but you must be sure to dress warmly, so not to get a cold. How learned you will be from so many lectures &c. Don't be too sure about Satan, he is probably just 'round the corner'. Have you worn your new white waist?
My feet are nearly frozen, as Mary talks, and I must finish this and get lunch. It is going to be pretty still here with you & C- both gone. The Lend a Hand girls are each going to write a little letter to Florence French, and Mary is in a hurry for me to get away from the desk so she can write hers. If there is any thing you want sent by C- you must let me know. I hope you will have good success with your exams.
Much love -
Mama -