Hudson, N. H.
Nov. 5, 1904.Dear Carrie,
Mr. & Mrs. Merrill, went to Nashua so we received your letter this evening. Mamma went down between five and six, and waited some time but they did not come and Georgie went later. The girls must have had rather lively times at Mead Hall.
If you can wait till you get home I can wash your white woolen shirtwaist. Use wool soap. I should not have the water very hot, but about the same temperature for washing and rinsing. Rinse in two waters, then roll it up in a sheet, do not dry on a line let it stand about an hour, and iron. Be sure the iron is not too hot. You could try it on a piece of flannel that I gave you[.] I just went up to your trunk & Mollie's to see if I could find a piece like the waist to send, and the first little bundle on the top was right, so you need not hunt for flannel.
Carrie Connell Andrews' mother died last Sunday. You know she was very sick with pneumonia last summer. I do not know what the trouble was when she died. Mrs. Haskins died a week ago yesterday, Oct. 28.
Mary had a letter from Bessie Bradford this evening. There was no great news in it. At the first lecture of the season some of the P. A. [Pinkerton Academy] students made so much disturbance that the lecturer shortened the lecture a quarter of an hour. Mr. Bingham gave a free lecture the next morning, and I do not wonder.
Does your watch go all right? If it shouldn't do not get it fixed there.
We, Georgie & I have been picking pine cones this afternoon for kindling. Georgie went before I did, and Mollie just as we came home. We found them under the pines up in the lot in front of the barn. There were fifteen peck baskets full. I took Caesar with me and after he got interested he seemed to enjoy it very much. At first he started for home once or twice, but when we called came running to us as fast as he could go. He is very nice, larger than Hannibal and ever so much larger than Alexandra. When he found what I suppose were squirrels['] holes, he investigated.
Mary had a funny colored picture come with her Etude. It is an old man playing a violin. His glasses are on the end of his nose and he is looking over them to see the music. It says below "Music hath Charmes." Ought hath to have a capital letter? It is getting late and I suppose I must close. Mamma says she supposed I have written all the news so she will write another time. She has been boiling cider for two days.
Good night
Lots of love
Auntie.Monday, 5.30 P.M.
I have thought of something more to write about the waist so will go over the whole thing. Use wool soap. Do not have the water very hot, rinse in two waters, of about the same temperature as the washing water. Do not dry on a line, but roll it up in a sheet and let it stand perhaps an hour. Do not have an iron hot enough to burn the goods. I send a piece of cashmere like the waiste for you to try the iron on. Iron the straps on the wrong side so that the trimming will look well. Some people iron it wholly on the wrong side, but I believe I didn't [iron] the sleeves any way. Mamma says iron the straps quite a while so as to get them about dry. If you can wait till you get home I will do it for you. I thought you better have the directions all together for reference.
Gene Center called this afternoon.
Auntie.
[On a separate sheet in a different handwriting is the following.]
Sunday Nov. 6th 1904
Dear Carrie
Auntie wrote you a letter to send today but forgot to send it so I think I will write a little and send also[.] I want to say before I forget it that when you get to Nashua you are to come to the junction and wait in the depot for Papa, he will come up on the car, as you could not come to the Limit in the dark, and get off, not knowing if any one was there to meet you[.] And as I believe I wrote before, if no one come[s], you would have to go to Sarah Spauldings and stay all night. Be sure and write the day you are coming I think you said Tuesdy [sic] but am not sure. I think I shall be very glad to see my dear girl once more it seems a long time. Last Tuesday I went to Lowell and got my glasses[.] I guess I wrote you I was going to change did I not? I wrote them till Friday and I kept thinking they were not right my eys [sic] were iritated [sic] so I took Daisy and went to Cloyds and took the quarter of twelve car down went to Dr. Bells office and his slate said "out of town to return the 15th" then I went to the New England Optical Co. where thy [sic] were made the man there told me I could not tell about them till I had worn them two weeks so I come home on the quarter past two car got home before four[.] My eys [sic] have felt much better I rather think they will be all right. We have been to Church today[.] I thought about you, and if it was communion at your church. Mary went home with Lena to stay till Tuesdy [sic] night[.] So we have only Georgie for young folks tonight[.] He has had the cats in to help him be amused[.] We had a snow spell in the night I expect as the ground and roofs were white this morning but it is all gone now. You must have had quite a political time[;] you did not celebrate Haloewen [sic] did you? Helen said thy [sic] expected to at the Y. W. C. A. but we have not got a letter from her this week except a line sent Tuesdy [sic] to Mrs. Buffers to Mary, saying that she got back all right. Papa got some cider made Thursdy [sic] so I boiled Fridy [sic] and Saturdy [sic], have got 6 gallons all done, and I expect he will get some more made for vinegar, perhaps tomorrow. Papa got down two loads of wood Friday P. M. so you see we are getting most of our fall work done in preparation for winter. We have bought a box of honey it weighed nine lbs. we shall not eat it all till you get home to have some[.] It is nice and white no dark parts in it. Charles got home last Friday he was at Church tody [sic] but went out before I could get to him to speak I don't think of much more now so will close with lots of love from Mamma
[The rest in Auntie's handwriting]
Mamma says I may have the rest of this sheet. I suppose she has written all the news that I didn't think of last evening. Have I spoken of Kate Abbot who lives near Stanley Abbot. She went to the City Hospital Boston a week ago yesterday. An operation was performed last Wednesday, and the trouble found to be chronic appendicitis. It was successful and her people are relieved and encouraged. I think they feared cancer.
The milk has come in and will need straining soon. We hope to see you soon and can talk faster than we can write.
It is rather cold here today. I hope you wear warm underclothes. Again I close with love, Auntie.