Bloomfield, New Jersey.
Dear Carrie:I suppose you think that I have forgotten my promise to write first. As usual my excuse is that I have been doing so much else. When I had some spare time I never felt like writing.
I haven't heard from a single girl except Zilpah.
For a long time I did nothing but wonder when my report would come and what it would say. To my delight I found credit in Math, Physics, & Bible making ten hours for the semester and seventeen for the year, which is the same number I got last year.
I've been in New York five times so far and three of the times I stayed a half week. The first time I went I struck the three hottest days we have had this summer. I vowed then that I'd never go again in the summer but something always comes up to make me go - either shopping or the dentist & usually my aunt & friends make me stay a while.
Tuesday Edna and I are going to visit my aunt & uncle & tiny little cousin in Middletown New York. They live on a farm with very few houses around. I expect we will have a good time. I enjoy that kind of country so much.
My other aunt (the one you met) has invited me to Lake George for a while later on. She is at the same hotel as we stayed at last year and I expect we will meet some of the same nice people again.
I have played tennis three times so far. I think it is lots of fun. But I am awfully stupid and slow. To-morrow we are going to play at eight o'clock (if the weather behaves better than it has to-day), but I'm afraid that will be the last time for me as the girl who owns the court is going away Wednesday. I'd give anything to have a court of our own.
I suppose you have read all the Structure books by this time but I've read only Richard F[...] and started Vanity Fair.
I haven't seen any Holyoke girls - not even the Teales or Senis, but she is away. I promised Florence Doll I would go to see her in Newark but have not done so yet. By the way, I have succeeded in getting one advertisement for the Llammy.
I sent postals to "Chad" and some of the other girls yesterday.
I suppose I told you that I applied for a position as teacher in the summer schools around here. It was all in vain, for the requirements for a summer teacher are the same as for the regulars and I am not qualified for such a high & mighty position.
I hope you will be more
Middletown N. Y.
I wrote the above Sunday afternoon. Now it is Thursday morning and I am up in Middletown. I hope you will excuse me for not beginning over again but I owe quite a few letters and must take advantage of this rainy morning & finish up everything. I forget how I meant to finish up the last sentence in the last edition but never mind. Papa found this unfinished letter on my desk and sent it up to me.Edna & I have had a fine time here so far. The weather has been perfect. My little cousin is the cunningest little baby I've ever seen. I used to think I didn't like babies but she has made me change my mind.
Yesterday I went to town with my uncle. (It's about a three mile drive there.) I spent my time shopping for my aunt while he went around doing something else.
We have played quite a good deal of croquet and may play tennis if the farmers ever get to work and cut the grass.
Here is a little nest of cunning baby wrens above my head on the piazza. I wish I had you here to go birding with me even though it isn't spring. My aunt is very much interested but the baby is enough to look after for a while. Edna doesn't care a cent about them either.
Please excuse this conglomeration of stuff
Lovingly,
Mattie.
August 2, 1906.