Fitchburg Nov 14 Sat eveDear Mary
One more you must hear from home, ere you come.
The day will soon pass by and you will be here and you want we should have a good thanksgiving supper, do you ever remember the time when we did not have one? It would be poor policy to begin now. - It has been a dark dull day all day misting most of the time. Miss Perry was here to dinner with us. She closed her school yesterday.
I have had my knives marked and got them this afternoon also a new cape on my bonnet, the old one had got loped [?] down, so much, Anna has got her two pictures framed which cost over a dollar, James has gone to Worcester to-day, he only came here to stay a few weeks, they wanted him in Worcester before he came, but he told them he had promised to come here for a few weeks if your Father wanted him.
George Rices wife was here to tea last night, they are going home to thanksgiving I heard to-day that Mr Stevens of Vernon Aunt Elizas sisters husband is dead, have not heard any particulars. I have heard he was very sick with fever, and she was not able to be about her son John, (he is married) has been very sick with fever it was thought he could not live, but I have heard he was better. I expect to hear from your Uncle E very soon and hope I shall hear the particulars.
O Mary you ought to have been here last Sabbath. We had Miss Eveleths intended to preach for us in the afternoon. A Mr McKenrie, (I dont know as I have spelled his name right) but you will know what it is, he is from Augusta Maine, he is settled there, he preached a very good sermon, So we shall loose [sic] Miss Eveleth I expect. - I saw E. H.- last sabbath, he is at West Fitchburg in the Baldwins store, he may call when you get home, he has not called yet, he may not however, as I presume he thinks C.F. has a claim, and he will not interfere. Whoever gets him will get one that knows something, and is governed by principle which we cannot say of all young men these days. Anna has not got the picture yet, I hope he will not write again unless he sends it, His last letter was very friendly, and on the whole, they are quite to[o] interesting to be rec'd from a stranger long, without knowing something more about him, but more when I see you.
O I am glad tomorrow is Sunday, that should I do without it, I am sorry it is so hard a day for you, I am afraid you dont enter into the spirit of it, as you should, - Cousin Anna has really a gentleman friend then, has she? a collegian is it or some literate I suppose. As she is going to accomplish herself for a high station in life, if she has a chance to step up here. Well that is all right. I think it is the duty of every one to improve the mind as much as opportunity offers, A storehouse of knowledge is more to be desired than gold or silver.
Anna has commenced book keeping, she commenced writing lessons, and Mr Ball told her she did not need to take them, as she could write so well - but advised her to take book keeping so she has commenced, Mary Adams is taking it and several other girls I think Anna said you can bring home our broadcloth cloak if you have room, Anna has got to have some kind of a cloak this winter, you know that they [sic] one she has was never a very nice one, I did not know but you might change when you went back, as you have a nicer one, still dont know as yours would fit her without a good deal of alering, I suppose she will not be satisfied without a new one, but every thing is so dear now, we dont know how to get more than we really need[.] Charlie has got to have a new suit throughout, I suppose you will bring home your purple [...], I have not made Annas, and dont know when I shall, I have so much sewing on hand I hardly know what to do first, every day brings it's [sic] cares and perplexities, and so life wears away, and we are passing
alongswiftly along the current of time very soon to launch into the broad ocean of Eternity. - I will send you three dollars more hope you will be careful how you use it, you will write again so we should get it next Thursday, I hope you will have a fair day to come home, there will be several of you to come to F- wonder if C.F. will be at the depot to meet you, as he did Anna, has Anna Stoughton asked you to go home with her? be a good girl all send lovefrom your loving Mother. -