Mansfield, Mass.
Oct. 23, 1899.
Dear family,
Mary's letter mailed at Pomfret came this morning. I was very sorry indeed to hear of father's accident. Write as often as you can for I shall look anxiously for news. I should feel better if George could be at home for a little while; I hope Dr Lowe understands what the trouble is. If it were not so hard getting from Southbridge I would try to get off from the Convention at Fairhaven and go home Thu. night to stay till Sat. afternoon. I could help you with the housework at least, but the trouble of getting me to and and [sic] from the depot would more than make up for all I could do. There seems to be much more sickness than common in Union.
I am glad Mr. Fogg has been decided upon; he seems to fill our specifications as well as we could expect. It is too bad that Miss Hopkinson is to be driven out. I cannot get time to write to her just now.
Last Saturday Miss Kinne and I went to Stoughton on our wheels; we went one way about twelve miles in two hours, but came home a much longer and harder way, making about thirty miles in all. It was a very pretty hard day's work for me; I took a hot bath and rubbed myself freely with witch hazel and have not been very lame. I cannot ride up hill at all; fortunately there are no hills here, and I am afraid to ride down hill, so a whell [sic] would not be of any great use to me in Union. Perhaps I shall get so tired of it that I shall not want to invest next spring.
You did not describe your new hat. I am going to get a plain walking hat before I go to New Bedford.
How is the fall work getting on? Are there many apples to sell? I suppose you are enjoying the pears. Did Harvey finally get his little jar of butter? Are you going down there Thanksgiving if father gets well enough? I will be there if you will, or I can go home Wed night and stay till Sat. afternoon, or go to So. Hadley with Elizabeth, as she wants me to, or I can stay here. Which shall it be?
I shall keep looking for letters as long as father is so sick. If you want me to come home, I will.
Lovingly,
Susie.
