Dear Mamma:-I am over at Mrs. Johnson's and it certainly does seem good to get back here. I had expected to go back to Jamaica Plain right after dinner but Mrs. Blood telephoned over and asked me to go out in the automobile with them at four o'clock, so Mrs. Johnson has given me a pen & paper so I can write here. I have decided to give up my room at Mrs. Lord's before I go to South Hadley and get a room near here for whatever time I am around Boston this summer. I shall save enough in room rent to pay for moving my things over, and I just can't stay over there any longer.
I thought this morning that not once this year has anyone of that household asked me to do one single thing or go to any place - family members or boarders either. I haven't wanted to go with them, but all the same I never lived that way before. My room will be a very hot summer one and there's no point in staying downstairs as there would be here, so I'm going to clear out. Mrs. Johnson thinks I can get a room near here - it will not be at the Salter's!
Oh, did I tell you I saw Miss Chick? She is studying at Simmons and I have seen her several times at luncheon. She is enjoying her work - and inquired for you. Today I went to the Harvard garden on my way here, but it is by no means as fine as last year, because of the dry weather I suppose. On my way over I saw Mrs. Chase so I stopped to see her a minute. She inquired particularly for you and wished to be remembered to you. She had on that same transparent voile skirt she wore last summer! I didn't see any of the Salters out, women or cats.
I have on my new grey suit and my new waist, the grey one I made myself. I shall have to take the collar band off and cut the
waistneck out some more, but the silk is so thin I couldn't seem to tell much about it myself. Otherwise it fits very well and it is so thin and comfortable.Last night Miss Brown asked me to go to the play her companion Miss Hammond has written for the girls of the Practical Arts H.S. to give. I expected it would be not much good, but it was as elaborate as the pageant of the World in Boston in costuming and very effective. You may remember hearing of that morality play, Everyman, that the Ben Greet Company gave a number of years ago. This was suggested by that, though not like it - Everywoman's Road. Everywoman has her past and her possible future explained to her by the Spirit of Truth, and groups representing the things that woman has done in various times and countries passed by. The whole thing was quite elaborate and really impressive. If she should cut it down about 1/2 it would be improved a good deal. It was given at the auditorium in the Conservatory and the place was full. There is another performance Monday night. Miss Brown has worked hard for it - the night of the dress rehearsal she went to bed at four. There were so many things to be attended to after the rehearsal. Miss Hammond really did wonders with the girls.
The people over here have all inquired for you. Mrs. Howes seems pretty well. She doesn't walk as firmly as you do, but I guess she's good for more of it!
Next Saturday I don't know when I'll get back from Concord. I haven't looked up the trains, but that wouldn't do much good anyhow, as so much depends on how long the meeting lasts. There used to be a train reaching Nashua at six. Perhaps I could get that - I can't tell at all. Tell Jessee not to do a bit of extra cooking - I'm sure she'll be able to give me such as I may need and I don't want to make her any trouble.
Yesterday I bought me a veil to cover my best hat in the train and also fixed the belt on the new white wast I bought so I guess I'll have clothes to go to Concord. But I haven't clothed my mind yet!
With much love to you,
Abby.Later: We had a fine ride out thro' Belmont, Arlington, Burlington, Bedford, Billerica, and back thro' Lexington - about 44 miles in less than three hours. We ate our supper beside the road in Lexington. They were certainly kind to include me. The roads are much smoother than around Shelburne!