Sunday 5 P.M.Dear Mamma:-
I have just gotten back from seeing Elizabeth off. She went down to N.Y. this afternoon so as to get a washerwoman tomorrow and go on to Carlisle Tuesday. If she had waited until tomorrow she would have been unable to get any washerwoman before Wednesday owing to the 4th. It has been so good to have her here and I shall miss her very much though I'm thankful for what I've had. I haven't seen her for as long a time since we graduated except the summer in Europe.
Yesterday we went out to see Nan Lyman in Sharon. I think they came up a few days earlier than they had planned just so Elizabeth could go out for Nan had not seen her for thirteen years. The family has a very pleasant house near the Sanitarium and Nan will begin the treatment she is to have this week. Just how much good it will do of course they can't tell but it has helped many. "Aunt Susie" is the main stay. I don't know what they would do without her. Nan whispers only a little, but does most of her talking by the deaf and dumb alphabet or by writing. She is fairly plump and doesn't look very badly. She sent her love to you. One brother, Elihu, came while we were there for two weeks vacation. He works out in Detroit - also has a wife who came on the train we took back, so we didn't meet her really, as she got off one car as we got on another. We went out by trolley, a nice trip of about two hours, and then had to walk 3/4 of a mile or so. It is lovely country, but was pretty hot. The house is a nice one, with sleeping porch upstairs and nice porches on two sides downstairs. We were very glad we went out.
Dr. Porter decided Thurs. that he could not work at the laboratory any more and I was delighted to have Thurs. P.M. Friday and Sat. to play with Elizabeth. Thurs. night we took our supper to Nantasket, and an aeroplane came right over the boat, down low, and did all sorts of circles &c right near us. Later as we were eating our supper on the rocks it flew over again and did more things. It was quite exciting! When we went out to Sharon we found that Nan's brother-in-law, the husband of the sister who died, was the passenger with the aviator Atwood on that very trip. Wasn't that queer?
Friday Elizabeth took me to Plymouth, and we had a splendid trip. It is three hours by boat each way and we struck a fog, so it took longer coming back. The place was very interesting and we had a fine sail. Lots of people were sick going down, but we weren't at all, even ate our lunch before we landed to save time on land. The view out into the Harbor is very pretty, with the islands bordered by white sand dunes. It was interesting as we came up the Harbor in the fog and all the boats were whistling and going so very slowly. Everybody seemed so careful that there was little danger even though we could see only a few feet away over the water. The men who ran the boat watched so carefully that we felt we were as safe as possible.
Elizabeth McKee comes over this evening I expect. I shall be glad to see her.
I don't believe I can get to Nashua quite on the 10th for there are so many things to do at the laboratory. I want to write up some notes - in fact I have to - and do some reading as well as leave things in proper shape. Of course Elizabeth's being here has taken some time, but I have been so glad to see her that I haven't cared. I suppose Dr. Porter sailed yesterday. I shall get to Nashua as soon as I can, perhaps the 15th. Will you have Miss Butterfield see if Mrs. Mitchell, Amory Terrace, has a telephone, and if she has find out if she expects to be able to give us dinners (Miss Smith or Elizabeth and I) July 15-31? If she hasn't a phone I'll write to her. Jessee didn't seem sure about the matter when I was up.
I must get ready for supper now, and it is so hot I hate to put on any dress that has a collar, but I have to. I haven't any clothes somehow that are right. I left my napkin-ring at Mrs. Lord's and I think I'll go over this evening for it. I can see Elizabeth just as well on the car as on the piazza where the mosquitoes are so thick.
Elizabeth sent her love to you.
With much love,
Abby