[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Templeton, Feb. 1, 1907.
Dear Lucy,
It will have to be a very brief letter tonight - the fact is I forgot it was the night to write till a little while ago - I am very busy trying to finish Mary's dress - have left all my work that I can, hoping I could get it done this week, as she wants & needs it badly. It looks pretty doubtful but "Time will tell". I have not heard yet whether you have received the box and I am a good deal worried - I want to notify them (the company) and have them hunting it up or pay me the value, if you have not received it before this.
We are all the same as usual - I thought I was going to have another time with rheumatism but was not nearly as badly off with it as I was two weeks ago - am all right now. Mary had a letter from Carrie today - she thinks she has taken cold - was all right otherwise. She had a letter from Hattie Newton - little Harriet is sick with scarlet fever, but is not much sick yet, and they think she is not going to be - There is not very much to write about - The Wellington Club met with Mimi today but I did not go - I did not know where it was to meet till I saw them going there. I don't believe I missed very much.
I saw Edith going by the house today, so conclude she is well. Persis has got home from Gardner - she called on me yesterday and seemed very pleasant. I did not say any thing about the washing and she did not. She was working for Mrs. Lincoln yesterday.
Elmer Hawkes is still very sick - Mary asked the Dr. about him this afternoon and he said he (Elmer) had a chance, and that was all he dared say: that his condition was more faverable [sic] than last night, but it still troubled him to breathe - Dr. G- had Dr. Greenleaf up to see him Wed. Mabel went to G- Wed. night and got a trained nurse - Persis says she (the nurse) is fine - that they say she raises the dead, she brings the patients through so well - Mary heard to day that the nurse had only left Elmer four hours since she came, and Annie stayed with him during that time. I hope he will get well. Marywent to Mrs. T's to inquire last night and said Mrs. T- talked as if she was half crazy - she didn't care if he didn't get well: and Dr. G- was all wrong and Elmer was not very sick and the whole Hawkes family were so shiftless ^c: and all the time Mrs. T- is making beef tea for Elmer, and boarding the nurse &c.
Have you heard that Mr. Meals is dead? He died last Sunday - had been sick some little time, but his death was very sudden - his funeral was yesterday. Miss Blodgett started tonight - not a very pleasant day to start on a journey.
I did not suppose I should write so much, and must stop and go to bed. I think you will have to have the shot-gun for Mr. W-. You will have to stop going any where with him if he is going to hang on like that. You better tell him not to go to the school-house to see you - he ought to know better. Mr. T- will be telling lies if you don't look out. Tell Mr. W- you will be a "sister" to him, or tell him what Mr. Skerrye wanted to say. Good morning, go to _. Good night and take care of yourself.
Much love,
Mama.