[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Templeton, Mass.,
May 15, 1904.Dear Lucy:-
I have just been reading the "Last of the Mohicans" so if my letter sounds a little peculiar don't be alarmed for I am "all hesitated up." The only thing that Auntie and I are interested in now is gardening. I guess that I told you that I had set my radishes. They didn't wilt at all and are looking fine now. Yesterday I planted some morning glories out by that pile of boards in the back yard. Also some perenial [sic] peas beside Auntie's sweet peas and one bed of poppies in the back yard. I am going to put another one there in a few days.
I have planted some lettuce in a box in the house, so that it will be ready to transplant when the garden is plowed and what do you think? I planted it last night and it hasn't come up yet. Do you remember that Auntie had a tube rose last winter and she threw it away in the summer and that I saved a bulb and planted it? All this is so. I put it is [sic] a cupboard down cellar and one day upset it and broke the pot. I put it into another pot and left it in the kitchen. Auntie discovered that it had come up so I am feeling very big.
Auntie's tulips are in bloom now. Persis has given us two lovely roots of golden glow. If you do not understand about this gardening send over to Amherst Agricultural College and probably all the students would be glad to explain it to you that perhaps one in particular would be more pleased. We have planted grass out back of the house and the sparrows are eating it all up, I think.
I expect to have the german measles for a change as several of the Sophs have them. I think the [sic] Addie Brewer was coming down with them Fri. for her face was all broken out. The plasterers have been and gone and Mama says that I can pull off all the paper that I want to into the dining room. I am delighted for you know that I always did like to do that. I have the awfullest cold sore that you could imagine and added to that another is coming right above it. I shall be a pretty sight for the rugbreaking! I think that your song is first rate. I have been singing it and it goes all night. Won't we feel big is that should be printed & then my history is going into the Junior Book. Mama says that I can have one and I am tickled half to death. Do you suppose that the the [sic] people at the St. Louis Exposition are reading my theme?
Elmer is getting quite angellic. He has a new streak on and helps every elderly woman off and on the car and smiles when he does it! Just think of it!!!! We had part of our bonfire Thurs. night & the rest Sat. It didn't burn very good for it was wet but it would have been too big to burn if it had been dry. I had been waiting & watching to see Frank Akers' bonfire and then he up & burnt it Sat. morning before any of us were up.
We let out at noon Mon. on account of Mr. Heyward's funeral. It poured cats and dogs and I was the only one who had any umbrella so we four girls came down West under one umbrella. Then it rained so in the cars that we had to have it up for a while[.] I encountered the new meatman that takes Mr. Aiken's place. He is nice & pleasant but I want Mr. Aiken and Carl. I heard Mr. Lowell say that Mr. Aiken was going Mon. X X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X X X With love, X X X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Molly. X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X