306 West Grand Street
Elizabeth, N.J.
Nov. 13 - 1881.Dear Mother,
Your letter enclosing one from Jennie was received yesterday morning. It was very welcome for I had been expecting one for a day or two. How pleasant it would be to drop down upon you all now, and spend this hour with you
allin pleasant talk, instead of trying to write a few pages. I can see you attheyour place in front of the fire and the others in their places round the table, for I know you are at dinner. I wonder if you have chicken, how nice it would taste. Every article of food here is expensive. We have plenty of meat food, but neither oysters nor chicken.I am glad you have at last got a new carpet. Should like to see it. Hope before the winter is over you may be able to get the brass andirons for the parlor.
By the way, did I write you that Margie wrote that she couldn't come this winter. I was very much disappointed as I fully expected her for a short time at least.
Please congratulate Jennie for me, I think she deserves a reward of merit. I wish I had something to contribute but my pecuniary possessions comprise three postage stamps and a postal, and I fear that even that will be diminished before night fall.
Mrs Muldaur is much better to day. She rested very quietly last night, and was quite bright this morning. The Dr. thinks it will probably be weeks before she will be up and about. We have seen her only a few times, as Mrs Moore, Auntie and Mrs Mather seem to be competent nurses. After she gets better we will sit with her. The rest of us are well, and are rejoicing in the change of weather. Yesterday it rained all day and when we went to bed it was still cloudy, but to-day is lovely. It is getting colder and we hope for fair weather, we have had so much rain that it seems nice to see the sun.
Friday evening we got some cretonne and yesterday we tinkered the large chair that Mrs Muldaur uses in the school room. At first we thought we would make a cover for it like the old one which was on it and cut it out with that purpose but after we got to work we concluded it would be better to really upholster it so we went to work with hammer and tacks. Of course we were obliged to change our pattern a little, and it was considerable work. We worked till supper and almost finished it, we had no gimp so that will have to be put on later. We are pretty well satisfied with the result. Miss Murphey had a gentleman friend to spend the evening so we did not have any time to work after supper. We will have to put the few remaining tacks in before breakfast tomorrow. It is a surprise for Mrs Muldaur.
Mrs Mather is here to-day. I have worn my blue dress two evenings and like it very much. My gossamer has been quite a convenience as I have worn it several very rainy days - we have had to change our shoes and stockings several times on account of the rainy weather of the past week. I am afraid you wont [sic get till till Tuesday and it is hardly worth keeping thill then. The mail closes here at four o'clk and we don't get through dinner till three or after so there is not much time to write a letter & take it downtown.
Hope you are better than when I left home. Lots of love to each one.
Your daughter
Alice