A Letter Written on Jun 5, 1904

[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]

Templeton, June 5, 1904.

Dear Lucy,

I meant to have written you last week and sent the money you wished, but the week has been pretty full and I have not got to it. Hattie came here Friday night and Lizzie is still here, and yesterday Carrie Wright spent the day with Mary: so you can imagine we have been pretty busy trying to get cooked up and things ready for company. Thursday Mrs. Ward surprised us by coming - I expected her Sat. but had told her I wished she could come before as I was going to have so much on my hands Sat. I was not ready for her but was pretty glad she came, and we got that black suit altered so I finished it yesterday except pressing it a little - and Lizzie and Hattie have finished my silk suit, except pressing it, so you see I am quite rich with so many clothes. Now I have to get a white dress ready for Mary to wear graduation night and shall have to put my fastest work in to get it done.

Lizzie is going to Gardner tomorrow afternoon, to visit at Charlie's for a few days: and Hattie is going to Boston for a day or two as soon as she gets her trunk - that went to Northampton, N.H. instead of Mass. and has not got here yet, and she has no clothes except those she has on: she could not go to church today on that account and cannot do much till it comes. Mr. & Mrs. Lord just made a very short call today - they invited her there, and Bessie called in here Wed. and was sure she, Hattie, was going to make her headquarters there. Bessie is expecting Alice will come there to visit her for a day or two after she is through with her exams. and go back for Commencement. Bessie is going out there for the festivities. I don't know whether you would enjoy going or not. Hattie says each pupil has only two reserved seats and the other guests have to take their chances of course Hattie & Bessie will have those seats - very likely you could have a seat some where; I would go if I could and wished - I don't see why your white piquè would not do - the thick waist if it is cold and the a thin waist if it is hot. Of course I don't know what they wear - you must have seen what people wore at Holyoke last year. I hope you had good success with your hat, and have a pretty and becoming one. I will send you $5 and you can have more if you need. If you need any little thing to make you look pretty, if you go over to the Commencement, get it and I will pay the bill.

I will tell you what a lively day I had Thursday. Annie came over soon after breakfast to borrow some delineators - she is making over that thin brown that she had made over pink - is to have a shirred yoke and the skirt shirred a little - she was very gracious, to me - (she wanted a favor.) she was here quite a few minutes and had hardly gone when Mrs. Ward came - a little later Mr. Hanson came and tuned the piano - he was dressed in a dark suit and looked unusually nice - besides those there were three fruit men, the fish man, and the grocery man twice - I don't remember any more but am not sure. I am going off the first day that I can to have a hat fixed up. The store up here was broken into last night and about $4 taken and some other things. Mrs. Parker says they think her husband was the one who went in, for there was such a small place for the one to get through. I don't think he has been arrested yet.

There was a vesper service tonight but none of us went. You remember hearing me tell about Ida Bennett? She died last week and the funeral was today. I have not heard but I suppose she had a baby and something went wrong. It will be a hard blow for Mrs. Hodge. Uncle Isaac did not go - he has not felt very well today. Lizzie, Carrie, Mary and I all went to the cemetery Monday forenoon - we had plenty of the huneysuckle and lilies of the valley, and Mary made three wreaths - your Aunt Mattie brought some flowers - I put a bunch of the lilies of the valley on all the graves and one on Margaret's and one on Edna Holden's as I knew you would wish: they have a stone for her now: and Mary and I put honeysuckle on Aunt Sophia's and Carrie Cooper's. After the services, we had to wait a long time for the car and stand up when it came: Carrie & Mary walked home.

Walter Hadley had two of his college friends home with him, and George had a friend - and in the evening the Bourns, Hadleys and I don't know who else had a dance at Grange hall: and they were as noisy as any of the Grange dances. Alice Pratt is helping some at the Inn. I don't know whether every day or not. I suppose you have heard that Florence French is married. It seemed sudden.

I must close and go to bed, for it is nearly ten. How are you now? All tired out? Carrie sends love.

Much love from
Mama.

Wrap your fur in some thing - it is moth time.