Sunday afternoon
Dear Mary,-
This is a miserable afternoon. It looks like the beginning of winter instead of spring, and there is that gray, dreary outlook everywhere which makes me think of November just before the first snow. We are just at the stage where we are pining for spring, and weather like this is disheartening to say the least.
How is it with you? Delightfully warm, sunny days that make the grass green and the flowers fairly burst out, and give you plenty of encouragement to search for arbutus on the mountains? So I imagine it, anyhow, and on a day like this I envy you.
Think long, Mary, before you give up that lovely country and a pleasant school, for plain flat, damp Jersey with its bustle and bustle for position a grade higher up. I suppose the latter is all right, but sometimes I get so weary of the spirit which I see pushing back of that desire for gain of all kinds that I come to the conclusion that the people here aim for the wrong thing. But that all comes down to the question of "What are we trying to get out of life anyhow?" and that each one has the blessed privilege of deciding for himself.
I've been thinking the problem over and over this winter and spring, and have reached just one conclusion. Which is: I don't believe that what I'm getting out of my present position is going to pay me in the long run for what I'm putting into it. As far as the saving of shekels goes, I'll do better at that here than any where else, but I've never thought that shekels would be very soul satisfying after every thing else had gone, so I think I'll call a halt.
Just where I'll go or what I'll do I do not know, but I've several very surprising schemes in process of working out, anyone of which will be enough to shock my friends out of a years growth. Since I know I can trust you with an undeveloped plan I'll tell you that I have my family's permission to go away for a year if I wish, so I'm hoping to get a government appointment in one of the United States' territories. Ella Bayer who is a rover, is very keen about going with me if she can get her parents' permission, so you can imagine that I am decidedly interested first in Ella's parents decision about her, and then in getting appointments.
As you see, nothing is at all settled, except that I'm going to do something different. Naturally, I don't want Woodbury to get wind of the fact that I expect to resign, for I hate to have people talking over my affairs when I'm doubtful about them myself. - I really didn't mean my own affairs. Next time I'll try to be better.
Lovingly,
Katherine.