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Sunday noonMy Dear -
It was our first below zero morning - 10° & all the hot water pipes tight, but after the house got warmed up, with the oil stone in the tank closet, they opened themselves.
Fathers cold has been pretty bad. & though he has taken Scotts Emulsion faithfully & flax and tea with lemon & leaf sugar. his throat is still bad. & though he is keeping quiet today. same for the fans & the furnace. He has felt pretty well all the time except for his throat & has not thought it necessary to keep quiet. but yesterday was a hard day with the machine. He walked down town in the morning for errands. & in the P.M. started the car to go down for Auntie. who went to Springfield Friday morning. to a mutiny [?] & for visit with Lillie, we have concluded he must get the chains on the hind wheels. as they refused to start the car. which had to go to the garage finally. after several trial times.
I intended to walk down to church with Auntie but the cold in addition to the snow took my courage. & I am having a very good time at home in the sunshine. Have been visiting with Vergie. I suppose Allan has told you of the increased salary $250, for which we are thankful.
And of the death from Influenza of the two McMorrough sisters within a week. one of them leaving two little children. It is very sad & hard -
We are glad indeed to hear that Laura had a good time in her Library work. & hope it means a new courage & strength to go on.
My Russia paper was completed & read, though it came at the end of the program, when every one was thinking of the trolley & home & supper, so the end was the best of it. but I am glad enough to have it done. so I can attend to some other things.
Auntie had a good time in Springfield, went shopping a little yesterday. but did not buy much but some bath towels - I have seen nothing yet. She walked down to church. & was to take my class. I think she liked to do it. though she had only this morning to prepare for it. Your letter came yesterday. & Father hopes to get the money to send tomorrow.
I hope your work is going to your satisfaction. We all cherish the memory of your days at home - we love you & are thankful for you every moment. -
Your actt now in [...] Bank [...] 820.94
[A separate sheet of paper]
Here I have finished my letter & forgotten the main thing. Mrs Kittredge grasped my hand at the club Tuesday with unusual warmth. saying "we did enjoy Miss Ball's talk so much. all the ladies did, & we want her to come again later in the year, & talk on some other phase of his life. Do you suppose she will be willing to? We expect to study Scott this year & next year & I do not believe we shall ever be through with him." She returned your book. & said pleasant things about it to Auntie.
I am sure you would enjoy hearing her talk. She thought your talk was so well arranged & you said just the things they liked to hear -
Now think of the stupid faces before you. & see that they did not mean it!
[A second letter was included in the envelope, though dated two days after the postmark on the envelope, so it must have been filed in this envelope at a later date]
Home
Wednesday one - Jan. 15Dear Margaret -
Our telephone was out of order for a day or more. I discovered it Sunday P.M. when I could get no response. Monday the bell rang. & a voice said, telephone O.K. now. We were sorry you could not get us when you tried.
Fathers cold has been a hanger on. & today he felt rather discouraged, & called at Dr's office. who agreed with his treatment of it. & said his lungs were all right. I think it is wearing away. but he felt badly this morning. He has walked down town each day, & has read aloud each evening, but has coughed a good deal. & thought nothing did any good.
Auntie walked to church & we staid at home - yesterday Mrs. Allan asked us to ride with them to the club. for which we were very glad. Father had said he should take us. but was glad to be reli[e]ved, and we had a lively meeting with one topic "In lighter vein" - a lot of anacdotes [sic] & funny stories. only a few of them stale ones. & we all enjoyed laughing together. Ethel was there for the first time. & in the last half of the program which was music - piano solos & duetts [sic] by Mrs Wood & Mrs Bartlett, she had a chance to judge of the musical ability of her own associates. & to think what she should do sometime.
I enclose coz Marys letter which you will like to see. [no longer with this letter]
A letter from sister Mary today has this sentence - "also a beautiful letter from Margaret - Marion says pathetically, "Why can't I write such nice letters as Margaret does"? "
Marion goes to N.Y. the 25th but only for four days. as her papers do not come in the right place for more, Ethel said she had decided to go to N.Y. on the 25th also, expecting to stay about a week. I had a nice letter from Vergie Monday, with two snap shots of Ruth. pretty but not very distinct. you may see them - She is 16 months old today.
It is Thursday morning - & the sunshine on the snow looks like sugaring time. Father feels better this morning than yesterday, is writing to the Thompsons in Hartford. & telling them we mean to go & see them. We had from the Library Frank Leslie's mag. with a war story in which Maj. Thompson is introduced. which Lizzie told us of, which was the immediate accordion of his writing. Fathers sweater is done & Auntie & I are each finishing our last pair of gray socks. I mean to overhaul my desk this A.M. I begin on last years accounts.
With hearts best love
Mother