A Letter written on Feb 2, 1900

My dear Susie,

After pareing apples and blacking the stove my hands feel rather rough for writing but I don't want to keep you waiting a week for your letter. The letter inclosed [no longer with this letter] came last Sunday. If I had gotten the mail myself I should have forwarded it but father didn't notice. I can't understand why she sent it to Union.

I havn't [sic] been anywhere at all this week. Father is going to his Board of Relief meeting tomorrow. Mrs. Fogg had a sowable [?] Wednesday but neither of us went. Charlie has not returned so we couldn't both go and I recalled getting Pete home from Addie Paul's last winter too vividly to care to go alone, and it was very cold. I was rather sorry to miss it. What do you suppose Mrs. Fogg has done? If I were as mean as some people I have heard off I would not tell you until I had tantalized you all winter. But I am not that kind.

The choir has been abolished and we are to have congregational singing! Just think of all the scoldings we have received because we wouldn't sing in the choir and then just as we we [sic] getting reconciled to it to be sent back to pew no. 26 to rest in peace until the next minister comes along with some innovation and routs us out. The new plan went into effect last Sunday. I don't know how Mrs. Back likes it for she has been absent the last two Sundays. Lizzie was not there last Sunday so Mrs. Fogg played - very nicely father said.

It is very cold here. Aren't you glad you don't have to go to Union and back every day? How does Miss Mary stand it?

I havn't [sic] seen any sleigh except ours abroad in the land yet. Mr. R. B. Horton called today to sell fertilizer.

Sam. was telling me the other day that when he kept a cigar store in Pawtucket he often went to Mansfield for a pleasure drive. He also told me that Mr. Metcalf who was fireman for Mr. Richardson's steam mill and boarded with Mrs. Thayer, is now the engineer at that inebriate asylum at Foxboro. So there is some one in that town who knows people you know.

How is your cough?

The people in my house have a baby not many days old. Ought I to rise on the rent? Father got the January rent this week so I have fifteen dollars to call my own, but like the poor woman's flour bag there are so many uses for it that I think I shall have to put it by until there is some imperative need of it. I must have some rubbers, for Aunt Viola's little dog ate up one of mine when I was there last week, and I came home in the condition of "My son John, One shoe off and one shoe on."

See page 133 of Cong. Jan. 25. middle column. "flagrant cases, unworthy men" etc. Do you suppose it means anybody we are interested in?

My pen goes "every which way" and I'll stop.

Your loving Mary

Feb. 2, 1900.