Sunday night.Dear Mamma:-
I want to write to you earlier in the day but this morning was so beautiful that Miss Brown and I went up on Joe Ledges and stayed all the forenoon. When we came down I found a big commotion in the Smith family. Mrs. Smith has been far from well, and she has decided to go home tomorrow morning. Miss Smith and I went over to the station to send telegrams, see about parlor car reservations &c. Miss Smith will not go down unless her mother is worse in the morning for both Miss Brown and another very kindly lady are going down tomorrow. Miss Brown had expected to stay until Thursday, but someone got the mail this morning and there were letters for her that make it necessary for her to start tomorrow. So altogether the day has been rather confused. Mrs. Smith has a pain in her side. It is probably due to some trouble with the liver such as she has had before, but she had better get home where she can have her own doctor, since she is a homeopath. They would have had Dr. Phipps today, I think, but he is sick - quite sick with some heart disease, Miss Gates says. I had planned to step in to see him a minute if I get to Gorham.
I have two items of news which I'm afraid I shall forget unless I put them down at once. Miss Lucy Miller's mother has died about a week or so ago. Miss Smith saw it in the Republican, which she is taking this summer. Miss Hooker has gotten the little house next hers to live in and will be there instead of under us this year. Miss Blakely and her mother are to have the lower suite. I thought you would be glad to know that, it will be so pleasant for you to have her in the same house.
Yesterday it rained much of the time. I hope it did in Nashua too. We went out for a walk in the afternoon and wished we had time to go up to Giant Falls which looked all full and fine. We could see the broad white streak way up high on the mountain-side. That is the place Miss Sackett and I went to together you know, when she asked me if I "had ever seriously considered the claims of Christian Science." The Sacketts have a young boy cousin here today and the way that youngster has seen the town is fine. He has been up Crag, to the River-seat, up Joe and Middle all in one day.
Miss Smith and I went in to Bowls and Pitchers on our way home this afternoon. There was a fine lot of water and the cascades were as pretty as could be. We couldn't find any of the little twinflowers, however, though the vine is everywhere.
We may go to Shelburne Basins tomorrow. A party is going, and they have asked us to join them. That is the place you almost saw, you know. Oh, the Cathedral Pines are all cut! We went in today and there are only heaps of debris and scattered trees. I'm glad we saw them last year.
The Mollers are as queer as ever. Mrs. Moller wears a yellow waist this year and both she and Harry have bright red ties of large size. They are taking pictures as fast as ever. Yesterday two men appeared "to set up an organ in the church." They are buying a little organ it seems and these men were sent over by some mistake from Berlin. Harry was prancing around as King Richard and Mrs. Moller as Queen Eleanor, and I guess the organ men thought they'd struck something rich!
Miss Smith has gone to bed, so I must stop. I hope you're having the fine cool weather we are. It is almost cool enough tonight to make one think of frosts. And I hope you're staying well, too.
With much love to you,
Abby