[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Templeton, Jan. 17, 1904.
Dear Lucy,
Right at the beginning I must say that Mary wishes you to read her letter first - it will be quite a disappointment to her if you do not. I think you will be much surprised when you read of the giddy doings of our 'baby'. I am surprised at myself for letting her go. She has been wild over the sleigh ride all the week but I did not really believe Mrs. Greenwood would feel able to go with them and of course I was not going to allow Mary to go unless Mrs. G- or some reliable or suitable person went with them - then one night Lucius came down and invited Mary, and told her his mother was going, and of course I could hardly refuse after that, though I think she is pretty young to go off like that: but I was glad it was Lucius. I suppose she wrote you how 'Sandy' backed out at the last minute - he had not invited Helen but he had told the boys he was going and I presume would have gone if he could have got the money. I don't see how he could have lost $2 playing cards that evening when he hadn't any money, do you? I suppose Mary has told you all about it - how they were dumped at the wrong hotel &c. But I think they all had a very nice time, and Mary thinks it was beautiful. She got home about one, and got up about ten the next morning, and does not seem the worse for it.
There is one thing though that perhaps, as you have studied chemistry, psychology and other ologies, you can explain. Mary told me today that the next morning after the ride, her feet were bright orange - she wore black stocking as usual. I shall be interested to know the reason. Doesn't it seem strange though, that Mary, who still carries Annie to bed with her, should go off with a young man to a ride and not get home till morning. I suppose they would not have been quite so late but their team did not come as soon by nearly an hour as they expected. Dr. Greenwood has had and is still having a bad time with his ear. Mary says he has been to Worcester about it and he did not know but he would have an operation - he was on the car yesterday and sat in the same seat with me - he said he did not suffer as much as a week ago: he could not hear any thing I said to him unless he turned his head. I hope he will not lose his hearing - it would be a pretty hard thing for him.
I have been very busy trying to finish that blue skirt made from your old one, for Mary. I did not get the belt made and there were one or two other little things, but she wore it Friday night, with her white waist and white belt and a pink ribbon and looked very well. Carrie went to Gardner Tuesday afternoon, and Thursday she wend [sic] to spend the day with Laura Howe, and Mrs. Parker came in for an hour that forenoon, so I did not get quite as much time as usual. Friday afternoon Carrie went to the Burnheimers (is that the way to spell it?) with the whist club - John Brooks put settees on a sled and carried them (14 of them). I suppose she is going to Boston soon but I don't know when.
Moses, Minnie and the boys called to-night. Moses has another cold but works. I hope you will be able to go to your sleigh-ride when they have it. Do they take you over to Amherst to be instructed or to let you see the college boys? You were speaking of the money you have, when you were at home. Carrie looked it up and you have about $300 of the money you had from your father, and the $200 you had from your Aunts Sophia & Augusta, so you see you will have more than enough to take you through unless you are sick out there, which we wont [sic] plan for. If you wish to take any study that costs more or wish to do things that cost a little extra, I don't see why you cannot: the extra expenses have not been so large as I thought they would be. I hope you will have good success with your pictures. If you have four sittings I would try one of your white waists for part, not have them all in your silk - you look well in your white flannel waist and collar and your white tucked waist is pretty if you have a collar that will not make you look big - couldn't you wear the collar. Carrie made to wear with your blue shirred waist!
Frank French is dead and was brought here to town and buried Friday afternoon. Your Uncle Warren made me a little call this afternoon - he says Warren Peckham is working in Connecticut now, and has been for three months - his family are in Concord but will probably move there if Warren likes well enough to stay. Warren B- did not remember what town or city it was.
Now I have bad news to write you. I went to E. Templeton yesterday afternoon to find out how Ada found your Aunt Augusta when she went to see her and found she had gone to Holden again - she had a card from some one the night before saying Mrs. Loring was worse and so Warren came up to-day to tell me about it. She is very sick and the Dr. gave Ada no encouragement that she would get well - he says she has a complication of diseases, Bright's disease and something of a cancerous nature - several bunches on her breast-bone, which probably has caused the severe pain. Warren thought the diseases were probably hastened by her fall, but of course they must have been well advanced before. She has a trained nurse and of course will have every thing done that can be done. I am very much surprised to hear she is so sick and am very sorry - she enjoyed her life so much and had so much to enjoy that it seems a pity that it could not be longer. It will be a hard blow for your Grandmother. You must write her as often as you can - she will enjoy hearing what you are doing.
Carrie some expected Fred last night, but he did not come. How are you now? Take good care of yourself.
Much love,
Mama.