Dear Mamma:-Now I'm at Shelburne with time to write there is nothing to write about. I'm not sorry I came for the place is lovely, but I do miss Grace to do things with, and every day there are showers. Just now we have had a heavy one, and I would venture out for a little walk along the road, but it is nearly supper time and I wait on table tonight. Miss Gates' maids have gone and she can't get any one else except a woman who comes in during the middle of the day and serves at dinner. So the boarders take turns at waiting on table and helping with the dishes. I took today, and after this I shall feel as if I'd done my share. But I remember how good Miss Gates was to us when you were sick up here, and anyhow it isn't much to do. I don't feel in any danger of hurting my clothes.
I expect to hear from Jessee tomorrow or Tuesday and then shall decide whether to go down Wednesday or Thursday. It didn't seem best to go without writing her, for this is just the time Fred often has his vacation and they get away. I didn't want to interfere with that, though I'll be glad to go if they are at home. I'll not have my letters forwarded at all, I guess, after Miss Safford stops sending them here. It'll not be any great accumulation. Tell her I'll be at Jessee's Wednesday night, or let her know to the contrary. Frances Botsford comes to Randolph tomorrow, and I wish I could be over there to go with her and her friend up a trail or two, but there doesn't seem to be any feasible way of getting over these miles between, and no place to stay over there except the Ravine House which is now 400 a day.
Some of my things I may be sending home pretty soon, but there will be nothing which needs to be unpacked, so just let them accumulate. These clothes aren't hurt by crushing! But they are amazingly comfortable. I'll hate to put on anything else.
Do you remember going along the road to the Cathedral Woods and then walking up the path through them when you were here? Many of the trees have been cut, but the place is still lovely. I was through there yesterday on my way to a little mountain about the size of Miss Gates' Crag up behind Philbrook's. The view would be lovely on a clear day. It was so yesterday, even though the big mountains were very hazy.
I'm glad the garden is so good. We have corn from Miss Gates' garden but it is too old now. The cucumbers are good. And the forget-me-nots in that patch down in the meadow are exquisite. They seem to blossom all summer long.
Love to Miss Safford and to you,
AbbyGates Cottage,
Shelburne, N.H.
Aug. 31, 1919