Dear little Nell,Positively I did not recognize your hand-writing when your letter came yesterday, - it had been so long since I had seen a specimen of it! What a gidsome (Caroline pet word) time you've had this Spring! I rejoice with you for it must have relieved the "earth-is-a-desert-drear" feeling that comes with the grind of school-teaching. I had a jolly time the three weeks Caroline was here and then had a two day's lark at a teachers' association over at Dunkirk on Lake Erie and then we celebrated Mamma's birthday by a drive up the Lake road and supper at one of the hotels. The rest of the Spring has been very quiet and work-a-day. The last two weeks I have been a terrible grind with reviews and our appalling Regents' exams. I positively was too tired and too busy to go to a beautiful picnic over to Lake Erie yesterday and when I stay at home from such voluntarily, you can make up your mind that I am getting to be a withered old frump! I dread the flurry and hurry of this next week. In spite of all my efforts I still have forty exam's [sic] to look over and all my reports to make out and all the various Commencement gaieties to attend and some final work on the alumni re-union. I've been too tired to sleep lately but expect to stick it out another week and I know I shall revive the minute I turn my face eastward. My S.S. class laughed to-day when I was saying "Be good while I'm gone," - "of course you'll be all right, Miss Baker, for you're going east" - with a mincing accent on the last two words.
My first thought on awakening this morning was "Next Sunday I'll eat breakfast with Nell." If 7.33 in the exact hour that morning express for Boston reaches S- that's the moment I shall descend upon you. I haven't looked up the exact time but know it must be about 7.33. That is a villainous hour to ask you to meet me. It is too bad that train doesn't stop at West Springfield - that would save you something of an early journey. You're a dear to be willing to come in to meet me & to take me back with you. I hope you aren't so tiny that I shan't recognize you!
I am awfully sorry Abbie can't go with us. I think it's just too bad.
Are you reconciled to Teed's wedding? I'm afraid I shouldn't be, if I were you. How inconsiderate of her at any rate to be married just now & so interrupt our tramp. How sad to miss Greylock!
Tell Caroline I received her postal but hadn't time to answer before she left Toledo & so didn't at all.
Abbie wrote me about the light literature. I haven't [gotten?] it yet but mean to get it to-morrow. I have one of Jerome K. Jerome's in mind. He's funny & the kind you can take up & put down any time. I believe he has one called The Story of a Pilgrimage that sounds appropriate. Some one suggested Bertha M. Clay but I drew the line!
Dear child, I am so eager to see you after our long year since I tried to say Good Bye and couldn't for the choke in my voice. Thank you for the invitation to breakfast. I accept most gladly.
Auf wiedersehen
L. F. B.Sunday afternoon.