306 West Grand St.
Nov. 16 - 1881.Dear Mother,
As I am writing to Dudie I will slip in a short note to you, as I want to ask you something I forgot when I last wrote. You know Ida & Minnie are taking painting of Mrs Knapp, and like it so far very much. They are anxious I should join the class - the lessons come once a week and are two hour lessons, the charge being fifty cents an hour. The materials necessary will cost about $6.00. I thought I could not afford it out [of] my own purse, but if Papa or Charlie would be willing to pay for it I would be very glad to begin next Monday. I believe you pay $20.00 a quarter of 20 lessons. You know I wanted to take last spring of Guillarme and for one reason and another could not. I don't know but that I want to take badly enough to pay for it myself, but I have planned to spend some money for Christmas and if I use my money for this purpose it will upset my plans. Do write me what you think about it.
I like my French teacher better each time and I think as soon as we get well started I shall progress nicely. She is a native French lady and is well educated.
Mrs Muldaur is much better to-day, comparatively free from pain. Mrs Moore gave her a good bath this afternoon.
Yesterday and to-day have been beautiful, cold sunshiny days. Yesterday it was so windy, I got out my ulster, it felt very comfortable though to-day it was a little warm.
I have not received any pay yet, and the money I brought with me is all gone. I had to use considerable for medicines and then my hat, feather and underdrawers made a big hole in it. Perhaps you had better send me a few postage stamps as I expect to use my last one to-morrow.
Mrs Moore expects to go home soon, how soon I don't know. Dudie will probably be able to tell you better than I, and we, that is I. M. & I think it would be a good plan for Jennie to take a little vacation and come on, stay a few days and go home with Mrs Moore, it will do her good to take the trip and you know she didn't get any trip at all this summer[.]
Ida & Minnie get along nicely with their studies, they keep very busy with their lessons and practising - no time for play, except about half an hour in the evening.
Suppose you are all well & that I shall hear from you in a day or two. Babe's letter was very cunning and sweet.
All send love, and with lots for yourself.
Your aff. daughter
Alice