[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Templeton, Mass.,
Dec. 17, 1905.Dear Lucy:-
I don't quite know how much of a letter you will get to-night. I am so full of planning things for Christmas that I cannot think of anything else. I have been experimenting making Xmas boxes & have had quite good success. Auntie & I went down below Cousin Moses' after some laural [sic] this P.M. We didn't get very much but what there is, is quite good. I want to make some Xmas wreaths. I think they are so pretty don't you? I don't know as I shall have time to make them but I think I shall have to set the whole family to work on them.
Now, what are we going to get for everybody. I suppose Auntie wrote about
Mama'sthe potato dish for Mama. I think that I had better get it because it would be hard for you to bring. Unless you have plans otherwise I think I shall get calendars for everybody - Cousin Lizzie, Cousin Bessie, Cousin Emma and Cousin Esther. What shall we get for the East Templeton people. We have spoken of ruching for neck & sleeves of a dress for Grandma. What do you think of that. If you approve, will you get it? Mama thinks a yard would be enough. We all think that would be as good as anything we could think of. For the others I have no ideas.We had spoken of a collar for Aunt Mattie but I hope you have some plans. I wish we could get that Botany for Uncle Warren & Aunt Ada but I don't see how we can unless you can send out to some of the South Hadley girls. I think I shall get calendars for several of the girls. I suppose I shall get Uncle's diary, shall I not? Or would you rather get it? Now what shall we get for Auntie? The only thing I know if that she wants is a stand to put her asparagus fern on & that would probably cost more than we should want to pay. I rather suspect that there will be a big hustling in this family the last of this week. We are to decorate the church Sat. morning so there is some of my valuable time gone. We are to have two weeks vacation & I have heard that graduation is to be the 26th of June.
I went to church to-day. Mr. Nichols who has been preaching was not able to come so he sent a young fellow up who has not graduated yet. He was a dandy. His sermon was not particularly deep but right to the point. He knew what he was talking about & wanted others to know it also. He was rather nervous I think for when he sat down he would put his head down in his hands. The Xmas music goes better than usual I think There is a new scheme on foot. We have tried forming in the hall at the beginning of the exercises & marching up the center aisle & separating and going down the outside aisles & up into the gallerie singing all the time> It goes fairly well but needs practise. [sic] I went to the concert Wed. & it was just great.
It is half past eight so I will tell the rest in five days. I hope I shall hear lots of ideas from you for my brain is nearly exhausted. 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 Molly. X X X X XP.S. I don't know as the ribbon is very good but it was the best I could do. I could not get anything except some very cheap looking stuff at Jordan's.