Mansfield, Mass.
Nov 278. 1899.My dear Mary,
Your letter came this noon. No, you can't come for only two days. It won't pay. I shall get the silk Friday and have it sent to Lula by express. She will cut it at once and you will go over early next week to have it fitted. Then you will come on the sixteenth. Putnam will be the best place to get your coat, but I suppose you will find it hard to get there. You might see what they have at Southbridge, (don't go to Blanchard's!) but I am afraid you would not get suited. The new coats are very short, plain at the bottom of the back, and have sleeves without any fullness. Don't let them give you any old things. Harvey is going to send me his mileage or get me a part of a book. You will enjoy Sunday here much more than any other part of the time, so you must come Sat. night without fail. I will send you the mileage in time.
I should say that Union is going to pieces fast what with schools and diphtheria etc, and I suppose you have not written the half. Be good to the Fogg's - but I don't mean by that to tell them all you know.
I have struck just the thing for Ida's Christmas present, the Perry Magazine for a year. It is beautifully illustrated, and I am sure she will like it. It is $1.00[.] One of the Riley books would please George. I had a letter, a combination one, from them last Sat. George has built him a little carriage house. G. McLean wears overalls. Wish we could have a picture. Eggs are 40¢ here. Mrs. Packard has two hens that are laying.
I don't know whether you could be accomodated [sic] here at Easter time or not; I do not think you would better wait till then. Drop things for once and I'll try to give you a good time, and help straighten out the inevitable mess that we shall find. Don't disappoint me, I've been setting my heart on it for two months.
My Mount Holyoke comes to me all right through Laura. I don't know anything about the ones that come to Union, but suppose I would better write to the business manager and have it stopped.
Miss Winter is the teacher in the primary room in my building. She has fifty little tots in the room just under mine. Hers are not dismissed till 8.45, and I often step in to see them march or hear them sing. I like her better than any of the other teachers, she is more the style I like, very refined, thoughtful, and knows the world pretty well. Scotch, too; she spent a summer in Scotland. You will not see her for she is going to spend the holidays in New York.
Thanksgiving day there is to be a union service in our church. The Baptist minister, Mr. Grant is to be the speaker. I am anticipating a very pleasant Friday. The Mass. Teacher's Association meets Fri. & Sat. The speaker Fri. morning is Booker T. Washington, and in the afternoon Dr. Grace Kimball of Vassar, the Pres. of Colby Univ. and Mayor Quincy. We shall hear them, do our shopping, and get in some sight-seeing if there is any time left, and go to the play in the evening. Isn't it an interesting day's program?
You ask if I'll give you a birthday celebration, why, I'll even have an eclipse of the moon on the 16th if you will only come. [There was indeed a lunar eclipse on Dec 16, 1899.]
I have a great deal to do, several lessons to get out, an exam to prepare, and if there is any more time I would like to write some little Thanksgiving letters, so goodnight. Hope you will have a good Thanksgiving.
P.S. I send a receipted note for you to put with my other legal documents wherever you may keep them. [no longer with the letter]
S.