Mansfield, Mass.
Sept. 13 - 1899My dear family,
The first plunge into work after a year's vacation keeps my brain in a whirl. So this letter will be mixy. The three days of school seem more like three weeks.
After leaving you I came to Walpole with one change, at East Thompson; Walpole is a dreary little place - at least the part that can be seen from the depot. When I reached Mansfield I inquired where the Packards' live and found it without any trouble.
Mr. Packard is a blacksmith; his wife is handsome, very lively, slightly deaf, and rides a wheel. Mr. Ed. Packard, their son whom I have not yet seen is a '99 graduate of Boston Tech, and their daughter, Miss May has been to B.U. for a year and is now teaching in W. Mansfield about four miles away. She drives to her school. There are two grammar school teachers, Miss Kinne from Westfield (acquainted with the Halls and Aldriches) and Miss Stetson. Much to my dismay I fond that I was to have a roommate, Miss Kinne, but I am getting reconciled in the light of further developments. I do want my desk very much, you know I can't think unless I am sitting by it.
Friday evening I unpacked. I have one bureau drawer. In the morning I called on Mr. Fitts, and then took the electric car for North Easton. I expected to go all the way to Stoughton by the electrics, but when I reached Easton I found I could take a train there and arrive at my destination much sooner. I found Elizabeth cooking some beef and making some cake. Louise had gone to Boston, but came home in the afternoon, and then we went to call on Bertha Hathaway, who lives about two miles from the center. Sunday heard Mr. Bray preach. Good.
Monday morning rose at five and came back by train ready(?) to begin my work as a high school mamm. This is my schedule.
8.40 Freshman Algebra
9.20 Astronomy (Sophomores)
1040 Rehearsals
11.20 Business Arithmetic (Jun.)
1.00 Geometry (Sophs)
1.40 Book-Keeping (Freshmen)
2.20 Review Algebra (Senior)
The Algebra class is the largest, thirty eight, almost too large to manage successfully. The review Algebra class consists of two members, Mr. Fitts' son who is preparing for Amherst, and another boy who thinks of going to Boston Tech. next year. I enjoy that class very much. The Astronomy class is small and pleasant also the business Arith. Geometry class is large and hard to manage - stupid too.
Mr. Stone, the principal I like very much. He is young, pleasant, a good disciplinarian, married, but I believe he and his wife board.
Miss Tallman, the first assistant, is a wee bit of a thing, thus proving that there is nothing in a name. I do not feel at all acquainted with her yet.
Everybody in this household is Congregational, with the exception of Miss Kinne, who is a Methodist.
Six churches in town, Cong'l, Meth., Epis., Baptist Universalist and Sweden-Borgeian; the Cong'l is the strongest; it is on West Street very near my domicile.
I have purchased a fountain pen, a $2.50 Waterman, also a 25-cent cash book, which is to be kept according to Seavy's methods strictly. I wonder, whenever I have time to think of it, who is teaching over in our school. You were lovely to write to me so soon, the letter was all the more welcome because it was unexpected. Now I am looking for another.
Mrs. Packard does set a good table, I can verify Mr. Fitts statement about that. The place and the people are not quiet, however, but I try to take the noise as "a matter of course." The electrics do not run near the house, but the steam cars do disturb my slumbers terribly. The frieght [sic] trains run in the night, almost steadily, I should think. My bed is a feather folding bed - that does not fold up. I have not slept well at all, but hope to get used to it in time. I presume sleeping alone all summer has made such an old maid of me that I find a bed fellow "trop". (Refer to the French Dict). The family have a new upright piano, and in the sitting room, which is the room I occupy, there is a square piano, open, but I have not touched it yet. Miss Packard is quite a musician, plays piano and violin and mandolin.
I have to have my washing done extra, and shall have the Swede woman who does it for the other boarders.
This evening I have to make out an exam in Algebra for a pupil who did not pass last year. There are lots of other things to do so I must close my mixy letter. How are the tomatoes? And how do you get along alone with the work?
With much love
Susie.