Friday eve Oct 30thDear Mary
I think I will write you a few lines tonight fearing I may not find time to write you all I wish tomorrow eve. We have been cleaning house today, Anna and myself, we have had the sitting room, dining room, and kitchen to clean the Irish girl helped clean the other rooms, your Father has been away for several days, so we have not troubled ourselves much about cooking, and have finished cleaning all our rooms today, have the pantry in the kitchen to clean yet, Anna has done well today, cleaned house most all day, We did some expect Georgie Purple in the morning train, as she did not come and it was cloudy and dull, we thought best to keep on cleaning and so we finished all the rooms, I am feeling very tired but have been lying down since supper and feeling some rested thought I would write you, James B- has come in and is playing
chequersback gammon with Anna. We feel lonely now your Father is away and Mr Goodrich is not at home nights. - Mrs Henry Richardson had a little Son born last night, great joy to them all I suppose. - Anna has commenced writing to you and suppose she has told you that Mrs Lee [?] has a little daughter, I dont know but I have written you before about it, - I heard yesterday that Dr Palmer had been arrested for Forgery have not heard any particulars in regard to it, does it not seem sad? I called to see about Mrs P- this week, enjoyed my call very much. Capt Newton died last Sabbath eve, he was unwell about eight or ten days I should think, had the libiens [?] Cholic at first, got better so he was out on the street, Sat some musicians went past, he came out to his gate and saw them pass, about six Oclock in the evening he was taken worse and died the next night at nine Oclock he died with stoppage of the bowels at last. We miss him very much he used to come so regular every morning with the milk. We have much to remind us to be also ready, for in such an hour as we think not of, we to[o] may be called. - Aunt D- went to Acton with your Father and he saw the cenductor [sic] of the Marlboro train and gave her into his care, and at night he saw him again and he told him that she arrived safe, and her friends were there to receive her, James says he has had a letter from home, his Mother and Mary, had been to see Grandma Howe, she is better they said than she was last fall, as this past summer I believe, They called to see Flora and she was not any better they said.Charlie did not call when his Father and Mother were here, I expected them in the forenoon, but they did not come till two Oclock in the afternoon and left between five and six so they did not see them long. - I was sorry to have you quite so despondingly in your last letter, I knew you have never been accustomed or obliged to improve your minutes as many do, and therefore it comes much harder to you than it otherwise would. There is Julia H-, almost three years younger than you when she entered the school, she did not complain of it, she has been used to more hardship in many ways than you have ever been accustomed to, so she does not mind it so much now, I knew it is hard for you, and I often think of you, and wish it were otherwise, but is it not for the best? Make up your mind that it is, and that you will brave the year not if your life and health are spared. You must remember that the brightest diamond allways [sic] receives the hardest polish. The storms and tempests of many years but cause the sturdy Oak to strike its roads deeper. So if we would obtain any real good we must toil for it.
I cannot think what should make you grow fleshy so fast, you must feel very uncomfortable. I do not think it can be good flesh, do not wear your clothes tight. James has just gone so I will not finish this tonight. - Sat eve. We received a letter from your Father this noon saying he should be at home Monday noon and that he had been to see you. He said when he left home, if he went to Chickopea [sic] he should go to see you. It seems as if he was gone a long time, last Wed- morning he left home. Anna sleeps alone up stairs. Charlie with me, - Mrs Zack Young has a little son, born this week, George P. did not come to stay so we shall look for her Monday morn, - Mr Emerson has been taking his vacation for the last few Sabbaths. I shall hope he will be here to-morrow. We had that tall Leomister [sic] Minister last sabbath[.] It is a year ago night before last since your Aunt Lois went into my room never to go out alive, your Father and I set up all night with her or we got about two hours sleep each, O what sad times we were having here a year ago at this time. I think almost every day when shall I see my dear Sister again, never in this world, but I hope to be ready to meet her in another when I am called to go, be sure and write next week you must not show Annas letters or say anything about them to any one, she thought you might like to see it so she sent it to you. be a good girl
from your loving Mother