June 2, 1908.Dear Aunt Emma:
At last the wedding is over and I can breathe once more. Last week the woman who works for me did not turn up, just at the time when I was most eager not to have things behindhand and there was so much to do. I was on my feet all day Saturday, Sunday and yesterday, and am glad to sit down today. All Grace's things that she was going to leave here had to be packed up and she had quite a good many things that she had brought home from her room in town, and then there were her clothes to be packed for her long trip; I think she needs and ocean voyage to get rested after the excitement and hurry of the last week. The ceremony was at the Church of the Messiah at 12 o'clock and after stopping a few minutes to receive the congratulations of those who were there, they came back to the house, changed their clothes, finished the packing, had some refreshments and then got away from the house about 2 o'clock. Grace looked lovely and everything went off well; her hat really did not look badly after all with the rest of her costume, but was quite picturesque. Her dress was beautiful, much prettier I think, than the conventional white satin and veil. Mr. Richard's friends have given them some exquisite presents of silver and cut glass and probably a great many more will be sent when the announcements are received, for comparatively few knew when the wedding was to take place. her aunts never gave her a single thing (that is the ones she lived with for so many years) but are planning to get all they can out of her now. They are sweet as sugar to her now. Her mother's half sister gave her a beautiful afghan. Father and I were very sorry indeed to lose her for she is one of the nicest girls I ever met, very generous, kind and helpful. I suppose she is well started on her ocean voyage by this time and we will not be able to hear from her for several weeks. Their first stopping place is to be Gilbraltar.
Ethel Strout graduates from Smith College this month and we received invitations to the commencement exercises. All Walter's family are going and Laura said that she should call at Mt. Holyoke College to see Abby so probably you will see them. If it makes no difference to you I would rather you would come here after you go to Nashua for I have an engagement for the 20th and rather expect to have company over Sunday, the 21st. So if you leave South Hadley the 19th as you wrote you thought of doing, we shall expect to see you sometime the following week, but of course we shall hear from you again before that time.
Carrie and I called at Walter's house one Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago, the first time that I have seen Bessie since a year ago last Christmas. Laura called at our house a week ago last Sunday but I have no idea what her object was. It was a strange thing for her to do.
Mr. Ferdinand has been removed to Lena's and wants to get home, but Mrs. Ferdinand says that he is not right and she does not want him to come home yet. He has to have a man to take care of him and the expense is worrying her terribly. I don't believe he ever will be good for anything again. It seems a great pity and I am very sorry for her.
Abby is very busy of course now and I hope she will get a good rest during her vacation. Give my love to her and with love to yourself, I am,
Yours,
Flora.