[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Templeton, Feb. 14, 1904.
Dear Lucy,
In the first place I will say that Mary has not written a letter to you to-day. She is about sick with a cold, a real grippy cold I should think; and is very tired from so much dissipation, so that I don't know how much is cold and how much something else. After a good deal of hesitation, I finally allowed her to accept both the invitations, that I suppose she has written you about. I felt it was too much, but they were both nice invitations and she was so anxious to go that I weakly yielded, and told her she might this once, but she "must not let it occur again." When she came from school Fri. afternoon she did not feel very well, but said the car was full and very close and she thought that was most of the trouble, so she took a good nap and went to Ralph's party - it was a whist party, but she played and got along as well as the rest - the Greenwood boys did not know how either, so she would not feel quite so badly: she and Carrie arranged that C- should go after her; so she could come home early. Mary seemed pleased to have her go - we gave her two pink pills and put her off to bed and she got up Sat. feeling quite well.
She was invited to go to Carrie's before night to help Carrie get ready, though more likely because they thought she would not want to go up there alone after dark, so she went from here on the 4-30 car, yesterday afternoon and came home on the 10-15 car this morning. Mrs. Burnham (Carrie's aunt) wrote me a note inviting her to the party &c., and that made it harder to refuse. Well, she went and had a nice time, and went to S.S. after she got back. I hope she will be much better in the morning, but think it a little doubtful if she goes to school tomorrow. She said Linnie was sick in bed with a cold today, and some of the other girls have bad colds. Mary says tell you she will write in the 'sweet bye and bye' - she is in pretty good spirits.
I hardly know what I have told you of this last week. Carrie gave up going to Boston till this week, after I heard of Aunt Ann's death. I thought of what she told me about going quickly. It is not always that people have it as they wish. I wish she might have had a few years more, and had the benefit of the money that was to go to her from Aunt C's estate - so that she might feel that she could use a dollar if she needed it; but she will not need it now. Uncle Isaac and I went to the funeral Thurs. afternoon; he and I and Gilman Waite and his wife were the only ones of our family. The Miless did not get their mail the day before, so did not get notice in season to go, but Mary and Alice were waiting on the street and went to the cemetery with us - she was buried in H-n. We should not have gone but they had closed carriages so we were very comfortable. When we were about half way over there we had to stop and wait for two loaded teams that were 'stuck' in the snowbanks ahead of us. I think we must have had to wait a half or three quarters of an hour. I felt afraid Uncle Isaac would be sick after it all, but he has seemed well as usual since, but of course it all tells on him.
I feel very sorry for Lester. I wonder what he will do? I think I wrote that I spent the day at E- T-n Tuesday - your grandmother seems very well - better than I should expect after all the anxiety and trouble she has had this winter. Mattie did not go to the funeral. I don't think she ever saw your Aunt Augusta after the day she fell there. Your grandmother said that it was going to be so hard for Mattie to go so early, you know she would have to get up and make fires, get breakfast &c. before she went, that they thought she better not go - she said that Mattie had had a cough nearly all winter. I don't know whether there was any other reason. I don't expect your Aunt Augusta got over feeling bitter towards her and I think Ada said she never asked to have Mattie go to see her. Did I write you that the Dr. told Ada that the fall had practically nothing to do with her death? I am glad Ada asked him the question - there was no cancer and the Bright's disease was not advanced enough but that she might have lived for several years if there had been nothing else - it was a disease of the marrow of the bones - the marrow of the bones, in some way, supplies the red part of the blood - the marrow was diseased, and that cause anemia, which was the cause of her death. I have promised Ada that I will go to Holden with her some day to get Mrs. Loring's things that are there - most of them are at Aunt Mary's in Gardner. I don't look forward to the trip with any great pleasure but of course am willing if it will help her any. I don't know how soon she will go.
I got a sickle of English ivy with a bunch of white hyacinths on it for Aunt Ann's funeral - there were a good many beautiful flowers there. Carrie heard at church, that Mrs. Charles May is dead - she was sick only a few days with pneumonia. This letter seems to be all about sickness, death and funerals. I hope there will be something else to write about next time.
Carrie heard from Lizzie last week that Fred was better but was still in bed - they could keep him warmer there. I hope you will go to the 'prom' any way and have a good time. I rather think Fred would have decided to o if he had not been sick. Miss Allen is to leave G. H. S. and the new teacher has come - I hope she will be as good but am afraid she will not.
You seem to have many mishaps out there. I hope all will come out right. The scar on Helen Buck's face will probably show less after a few weeks or months. You have not written me how you are, since you went back. Are you better? And do you sleep? Be sure to do as I said about the washing. I wonder if you had to lecture. Was it cold out there, last week? I will send you some stamps for a valentine - I think you will like those as well as a little picture.
I must stop, so much love.
Mama.