My dear old Hubby,Your picture is dead elegant. I am tickled to death with it. C.Y.K. & H. most affectionately. Your letter too was most acceptable. I had a beautiful morning but it has poured ever since noon and my spirits have consequently sunk, most unreasonably for I have a lot of carnations and daffodils to brighten the house and chocolates to tickle my palate. But I am quite a child in regard to my birthday and want everything to be just so. It began wrong for Mamma got me up a spread as a surprise last night and I walked off unsuspectingly to Sue's to supper. Quite a joke wasn't it? I wish you could see the cute corset-cover Helen sent me - you know she's moved to Missouri - I'll have to take east with me in June and Mamma gave me a fine new portfolio for my old one is fairly dropping to pieces and for Easter she gave me an address-book, so I ought to keep my correspondence in good shape.
Your reminiscences of my last birthday made me quite homesick for the dear old Family spreads. Poor little Flint! Does she smile on you this year?
I went to a matinée yesterday and was very warm and uncomfortable and thought wistfully of you and Abbie "among the hills." But next Saturday I am planning a fine drive with Caroline for next Saturday over our Chautauqua hills. Now it's your turn to be envious. Did Miss S- go? I had a lovely letter from her, the other day. Of course she told me that she will go with us and did she tell you that she and Miss P- are planning to stop over at Chautauqua on their way home from Ann Arbor in August? Won't that be fine for Lucy Fish? What of F.P. & the Berkshires? I am sorry Mollie can't go but I shan't give Edith up yet. Abbie declares she can't go but I have a feel that she too will in the end. I am quite sure that Caroline & Elizabeth will be on hand, and of course you & I - we always are, you know. You and Abbie must make the plans for us all, as you think best.
I have a small pistol that I'll bring, if your father will feel any easier. Are you going to wear a short skirt? And just what are you going to carry?
I am so plump that you'll never give me the credit for working hard this year and in reality I never worked so hard for such a long stretch but three square meals a day of my mother's cooking keep me up to 115 lbs. I had a good rest during the vacation and a very lovely Easter day and went back to work Monday feeling like a different girl. Things went beautifully all week and there were lots of nice things happened outside of school to keep my spirits up. There are not enough weeks left, I guess, for me to get back to the starved state I was in before the vacation. I hope you won't get too out of sorts.
I agree with you in regard to the Art Building. I wish the Class-letter would hustle along. I wonder what most of the girls will want to do with the money.
I find it as yet impossible to get off for even moderate walks to say nothing of tramps, tho' we did drive ten miles one day to a third-rate boarding school just across the line into Pennsylvania which was a pleasant change and besides made us very thankful we were teaching in Jamestown and not Sugar Grove.
As the plans materialize, keep me posted.
Thank you again, dear, for your loving thoughts and the dear picture. Lena has seen so many pictures of you that she knows your face well. I was amused when she said "Isn't that splendid of Nell?"
Lovingly
Lucy.Sunday, April 25, 1897.
20 West Fourth St.
Jamestown, New York.