Friday night. Mar. 8
My dear Mother,I suppose you
do notwish to hear from us as soon as possible, and when Susan can come home. She would not have written this morning, only she feared you would be worried about her.Miss Whitman thinks Susan had better come home and if it is convenient for father, to meet her in Boston she will come on Wednesday next week. I shall go to Springfield with her, and see her into the cars, and then if father is at Boston - depot, there will be no trouble about it. If she could stay at E. Boston all night, she thinks she would rather go in the second train, & she would not have to leave so early in the morning, but if it would be more convenient for father to have her come in the first train,she would us [...] do it. You will write immediately, and then one can get it Tuesday night, & send some money, & tell us what train you think she had better come in. She will come on Wednesday, even if not pleasant, for fear that father will come to Boston, & not find her, that is if she is alive & well. I think there will be no difficulty, if I go to S. with her. She wants Helen to go with, but probably she will not.
We sure expected you to-night but failed to see you. Miss Whitman is so sick that I have writ nothing more to her, about H. Plummer. I [sent] out that paint box this week, Wednesday - probably William has received it by this time.
Be sure & write, so we can get it Tuesday night, as Sue will make all her arrangements to come on Wednesday.
I have a great deal to do [...], as I must go to bed now, I must not write more, so good bye Mary
[and then in a different hand:]
I wrote yesterday that I should come home in the first train, but if it would be as convenient for father, and I could stay in East Boston, I should a little rather come in the second, but I do not want to stay in the city of Boston all night. I should get there a little after five o'clock I believe. Be sure and write for I cannot come unless you do and tell me particularly what time to come. Susan.