Dear Mamma:-I think I had better write to you tonight for we may go off blackberrying tomorrow and so not have time to get it into our one daily mail. My mail has come through all right by Whiteface, but it will be better to send it by Tamworth.
Monday we had a regular pourdown but it didn't begin to rain in the morning in Newburyport, so Miss Smith and her mother came. The drive over was not very pleasant, but they didn't get really wet, I guess, and took no cold. I am afraid Mrs. Smith is not going to enjoy it, because there are so few people here for her to talk to and so little for her to do. She took quite a walk tonight after supper. The sunset was beautiful.
Yesterday forenoon we walked over to North Sandwich - 2 1/2 miles away - where there is a store and a postoffice. Whiteface store and postoffice are about two miles away, I believe. We are right a[t]
acrossroads and only a half mile from a place where five roads meet, so we shall find it easy to get varied walks. Then the pastures and fields are fairly open, and all give beautiful views. We have gotten the mountains pretty well straightened out now so we know which one is which. The ones we want to climb are only a very little if any higher than Monadnock, and not any harder, I am sure. It will be great fun.The Round Robin came yesterday. It has been stuck at various places, so I haven't had it since last March. Nan Lyman had a relapse along in the spring but is better again now. She is at the place where they have been several summers on an island in Lake Winnepesaukee [sic]. If she is there when I come to leave I may try to see her, for I rather think I shall go by the Lake to the Weirs and down to Nashua that way. It is a 15 mile drive instead of 10 miles but a new road and otherwise a pleasanter trip. Surely I'd rather go by train from the Weirs down than by Rochester.
Nell is down at Eastport visiting, and Alice Cheney is still in Wisconsin. The baby she says is well and happy. There wasn't any other news I think. To what place did you say Mr. Hamlin had been called? Edith's letter was one of the oldest and if she has moved I fear the Round Robin may get lost there. It goes to Gertrude in Europe somewhere now.
Miss Purington hears from Miss Neilson that she is tramping a great deal in the Lake Region in England. Miss Ellis and two friends are planning to spend the first two weeks in September only about five miles or less from us here.
I never saw so many blackberries in my life, and there are still plenty of blueberries although they are very ripe. We even found a very few raspberries the other day. It is curious, but things here are certainly two weeks ahead of those in Ithaca. We have splendid fresh vegetables and the food in general is good. I eat a lot, so I ought to know.
Mended my stockings today, I am thankful to say.
Miss Smith sends her love to you.
With love to you,
Abby