South Hadley, Mass,
Jan 3" 1883.
Dear Father,
Thank you very much for your prompt reply to my letter, your letter and check came to [me] New Year's day. I imagined you all at home having a turkey dinner.
I stood it in Springfield as long as I could and on Saturday my friend Blanche Epler and I came up to a farmers' near here and appealed to his wife tender sympathies and we boar[d]ed [with] them untill [sic] yesterday when school begain. I have been sick since school closed but am feeling better, have been pretending to study to day.
I wish we didn't have any vacation. I feel as if I never could get back to study again. How people can board all their life I can't imagine, it would drive me distracted.
X'mas day the girls went to Episcopal Church and gave me vivid description of the beautiful ceremony, which with a letter from May [her younger sister, about 12 years old], constituted my X'mas pleasure. It was so thoughtful of her to write so I would get [it] X'mas day.
Edd [older brother] wrote me a long letter about his visit to his old school friend upon the Hudson, X'mas day. He visited many places of Revolutionary fame and met some pleasant people.
Had a letter from Frank Maize to day, he is at home spending his holidays. He is very enthusiastic over surveying, and expects to return. Uncle Maize has not been strong since [he] had erysipelas, Auntie is well, as usual.
Was [sic] your lawyers charges greater than you expected in the case. I'm so glad you are through the constant care and worry of it. I think the expense of it has been very heavy, but in comparison with the defeated party's they are light.
I'm so glad you had such a pleasant trip, to Phila. and Washington. Did you succeed in accomplishing your object in regard to the coal? Good night dear father I wish you all a happy, happy New Year
The weather for the past week been very pleasant but yesterday and to day it has been very cold, several degrees below zero all day.