Poland, Maine
July 26, 1907Dear Jennie:-
Really and truly I intended to answer your nice long letter but - I haven't. It has not been on account of many outside interests though but just because I [am] trying to rest when I am not sewing or busy round the house or down at Eva's.
Only one really important event has happened this summer but that one was good enough. Clara Nims had been down below Rockland visiting Charlotte Guilbert and on her way back stopped to New York stopped over Sunday with me. It did seem good to see her again.
This is the fourth rainy, east windy day in succession and my patience is wearing thin. To be sure the other three have been more foggy than rainy but the "wind's in the east, Mr. Jaundyce."
I'm going to send you those College Settlement papers Miss Marks gave me to "read and pass on where they would do the most good, - or harm". They seem rather unessential for our work but will you in your turn please read and pass them on. I've decided on the first work for my sewing class next year. It is to be those handkerchief aprons and I am keeping my eyes open at bargain sales and ten cent stores in hopes to get them two for five. I'm going to have them do what little cutting there is on them themselves and have just rubber for the binding. Do you think it would be better to get ribbon enough to tie - oh my pen's running dry - in a bow or have shorter lengths and have them put on ball and sockets? That sewing class is really rather expensive and I want to keep well within limits. Oh but I do look forward to the work. How are you making it? I wish I could start a branch right here in Poland for the family of absolutely impossible children just below us. Eight of them! and their clothes! oh words can't do them justice.
And then I keep wondering up Bess Clapperton will take the Dramatic thing next year; and, Jennie, do you realize that that play has got to be subject to the approval and oversight of the old Dramatic Club? Makes me a little vexed, so much red tape & fuss & interference. Did Marion Wilder speak to Eunice about putting her on a committee after Miss Marks suggested her? I surely seem to be fully of questions and curiosity. I guess I'll deal [?] it and chronicle some of the simple events of my country life. I've sewed quite a lot to begin with; fixing things over and straightening out the havoc a year of college produces among buttons and bindings.
My bicycle went on strike the day I got here, the results of last year's riding and I had to wait for over two weeks before Allen got the thing fixed. And to quite cap the climax Eva can't ride hers at all and Hazel's is a sight to behold. So that pleasure is greatly curtailed.
The other night we had a frolic though. It was one of these foggy days too but Eva and her two brothers and I went up river to the pond near Poland Spring House, got another boat which less resembled a butter tub and ate our supper out on the lake. Coming back math [?] boy joined us with a canoe so Eva basely deserted me for the finer boat. We kept together all the way down for the channel isn't very big and although our old tub retarded us a lot we got back between ten and eleven.
I'm resting - That is I must be. I wouldn't know it from my feelings but common sense tells me I must be so I've decided I am. I hope your summer is being the happiest one imaginable. Oh I want to tell you. Who do you suppose I had a letter from just the other day? Sydney Babcock!
Good-bye now, Jennie, and do write to me soon again. Mother sends love and so does your friend
Mary.