[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading; lack of capitalization and punctuation is as the writer intended and are not typos.]91 8th Avenue
New York Nov 25th /62My Dear Friend,
I promised to write to you, and intended to have written long before this; that I did not, was not because I had forgotten you, for I do not think a week has passed since I saw you, but what I have said to Mr. Crane. I wish Mrs. Moneypenny would write and let me know how they like living in the country. I must write and let her know where we are, but I kept putting it off, and the summer has passed and here I am, back again in the old house we left in the spring.
The landlord wrote to Mr. Crane about a month before we came back, informing him that he had not troubled himself about letting the rooms and if he wished to take them again, would keep them for him. we did not care much about taking them, on account of thier [sic] being on the third floor, but could not find others as convenient otherwise, so we took them. it almost seems as though I had not been away.
I miss you very much, how are you. I looked a long time for your photograph, but looked in vain, did you send it? I would like to have it very much. The one I gave you is a miserable looking thing, I wish it was better. I have one of them here, Mr. Crane thought they were good, when they were first taken, but now he says they are not fit to be seen. I never thought they were good.
I suppose your little girl walks and talks by this time. I would like to see her, do you think of coming down this winter? I wish you could come make me a visit. I have had considerable company since I came from the country, and my sister Adeline has been with me two weeks. She has gone back to Brooklyn, and I feel rather lonesome. she is coming back soon. when she is not here, I am alone from one oclock in the afternoon untill ten in the evening most of the time. Mr. Crane has Dr. Lord's son here in the morning, and as soon as he gets his dinner he is off to the seminary and usually he goes from there up to nineteenth St to teach a young man who is in the University to do his sums in algebra to-night he came home before going there. he wishes to be remembered to you and the Doctor. he is well, and is fleshy for him. I have just finished reading Great Expectations, or Pip, as I usually call it. have you read it? it is a strange book. the first part is very laughable.
Catharine washes for me yet. she inquired if I had heard from you, she says Carrie's Aunt is married, and Carrie is in the same place and has as much as she can do. Are you going to your Fathers on Thanksgiving day? remember me to him. my Aunt and Uncle came here last week to invite us to dine with them on on [sic] that day so we are going, though I had just written a note to my sisters inviting them here, but had not sent it. write soon. I send love to Anna Mary and Emma not forgetting yourself.
Yours in friendship
Lottie A. M. Crane