41 John Street
Springfield, Mass
May 29, 1898.My dearest Mother:-
The girls reached here safely Friday night. I opened the box soon and found the lilies. Nothing could have pleased me more. They are perfectly beautiful and fragrant. I have them here on my table. And the best is, they came from home. I hope you didn't rob yourself. But I do appreciate them. My box made me feel like a little girl again. I guess you haven't wholly given up taking care of your grown-up baby. The dress was pretty, didn't you think so. Was there any of the lace that was on the lining left? I wish she had cut the lining lower. Its [sic] just half-way now. I should have thought she might have when I emphasized having it thin about the neck. Wasn't the sash pretty?
You know it had rained all the week steady and I thought of course it would be pleasant by the end of the week. But all that could be said about yesterday was that it didn't rain[.] To-day its [sic] warm and quite light by spells but the sun isn't out. W want to take them up to College to-morrow and to the Gorge but we cant [sic] go to the Gorge if its [sic] wet.
Yesterday we went down to Forest Park in the morning and in the afternoon up to the Armory but there they wouldn't let us in to anything. Then we went to the Art Museum.
It just makes me provoked - this last week we haven't had hot meat but once. I guess the girls are starved for we haven't had any thing but cold meat since they've been here. Mrs. Weston was at the Smith's last night and we wondered what she thought of our supper. Well, any how I pine for some of her roast beef and good stake. [sic]
I haven't tried the skirt supporter yet but I will. I'm a little afraid my belt isnt [sic] wide enough to cover it up.
I'm not going to send any washing out, after this week. A good many of my clothes have got to come home and they may as well be dirty.
[unsigned but written by Nellie Swift]
P. S. I guess Mamie better get some of that lace for I dont [sic] believe I can stand than [sic] lining as it is.