[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]Well, Miss Gates is some of a sport too. We said at 8:45 A.M. - "Can we start right off for Mt. Washington?" "Yes" - says she - "go ahead!" She had to mentally fit her horses, men - and lunch together, but she did it, and we started at 9:30 to drive to Glen - 14 miles. Reached there at 12:45 and in ten minutes were on the road up. Some other people went to Glen Ellis, else we could have progressed more rapidly. The horses too hadn't recovered from their climb. We took until 6:15 for the eight miles, but didn't hurry - arrived just in time for sunset and supper. Oh, it was wonderful all the way, especially after the half-way house. We saw all the world, honey. Mt. Blue over in Maine was as if next door. The sun set behind Mt. Marcy in Vt, and you know how much there lies between those two. We had such magnificent views of the rest of the range - Clay, Jefferson, Adams, Madison! And then the floating eight diaphanous, pink clouds below at sunset on one side - there one minute, gone the next, and the golden sea of light over the peaks. In the evening so many stars now, clear as crystal - then all wiped out by a passing cloud. Cold? yes, some. I had my two sweaters and my old familiar shawl, but I'd never take the latter again. It was the one thing too much in the rucksack. My back ached hard the last two miles up - not down for I wore both sweaters most of the way. That ruck-sack is all right - I'll tramp two weeks with it!
The little old tip-top house was such fun. We had three tiny rooms each with a window which didn't open, but there was no need of further ventilation, for the breeze penetrated at every crack. I wore my bloomers and sweater to bed and was fairly hot - Miss B- wore a nighty and I guess she isn't warm yet. She might have had my shawl if only she'd said a word. Miss Sackett was canny, too, and warm. I can feel my bloomer elastics yet after that 36 hour clasp they gave me. We went to bed about nine - oh, the supper was in the living room by the big fire and good. There are ten rooms for rent - two large men had one tiny bed - and some dozen more men and women slept promiscuously on beds and floor in the stage office just below. Moral: order rooms ahead as we did before starting. Nice people - one girl from Randolph who was born at 10 Humboldt St! and such a nice uncle with her and the other two girls. I fell in love with him on sight. There was a young man beside Miss B- baptized with her in a coffee bath which ran down into his shoes! He was dangling his shirt before the fire the next A.M. to finish drying it!
We were to be called for sunrise - but I'll have to go again for that, for we had clouds and some wind yesterday. We started down in said clouds at 9:15 and played by the way with the flowers so that it was 1:45 when we got down. Clouds thick for two miles or so, then wonderful effects until we reached the tree line. Dinner at the Glen House (good) and behold it was raining! We were met by a covered carriage and got back here at about five I guess, rain all the way. You see we were lucky as usual. Oh, but it was fun! There was the man who gave Miss Brown an orange - and oh, so many little things happening beside the bigness of it all. Honey, you have to do it, but we want a man to do trails. They're really easier we are told, even Tuckerman's, because so much less monotonous for the muscles and so much shorter. But the carriage road gives more variety in view because it winds so far.
I'm not going to buy any winter hat - and clip out some other things - to rejoice in this. We just had to go the second time, and it was wonderful.
Prof. Clifford loaned us his Appalachian guide book (we'll have one!). He's such a dear, would have gone with us except for a cut foot. Really he's a wonderfully sweet man, and I judge quite a shark electrically speaking. Funny stories no end. This A.M. several of us went up to the Bowls & Pitchers (3 miles all together) and he told me alpine yarns &c for one mile. We got ahead somehow. He's handsome, too, but he can't get much fatter! And the little Gretchen is so ready to see her father's teasing and jokes, and so used to older people that she's just a pleasure so far. Mrs. Clifford doesn't walk much and I've really seen little of her, but like her much. I'll try to remember some of the stories. A friend comes to stay soon with an automobile. I feel we shall see little of the Cliffords then, but they stay, the C's, until almost as late as we do.
Sorry Miss Doak wobbled so, but it's the best solution, honey. Guess she'll stay the year all right, and that will give you time to hunt.
No - eats are merely ordinary - passable, but not any inducement to come again.
My first lot of films looks good, some anyhow. As soon as I can get paper & stuff together I shall print - if I can spare time! Three whole days in the open this week - but it suits me exactly.
I must stop and read to my mother - but you've no idea how I rejoice in my stuffy little room, with no sun, no view, no air - but independence is s-w-e-e-t!
Good bye, dearest - Here's love to you - I wish you were here -
Abby -Love to your mother - also love to you both from my mother.
Sunday afternoon
Hello, honey - I wish you were here today! It's so lovely. And you'd like it so much.
There last two weeks we have utilized the time pretty well. I'm thankful day by day for Miss Browne and Miss Sackett to do things with. They are surely good for chance companions and I shall miss them when they go
Thurs.Tues andFri.Wed of this week. (There's a squirrel eating the seeds out of a pine cone over my head and he distracts me!) Thursday we three went up to Bowls and Pitchers and then over two miles or less to Philbrook's (charming boarding house) by a "yellow trail." Part of it was exactly the sort of fine woods you like, honey - with mosses and things on the ground. I thought about you. Miss B- called on a friend and we came home by the road. (There's so much pitch on my fingers that they're stuck fast to my pen. You may notice a cramped chirography.) Two evenings I've played pinochle with Miss B- and hope to learn it well enough so as to teach you. It's a nice card game.Well - Friday we went to Randolph. It was a beauteous morning and Mr. Blood and Robert came over about 9:15, having telephoned the night before. Before we got half way over the 12 miles there was the blackest cloud over the mountain that you ever saw and we coasted down the long hill into Randolph at a speed unfamiliar to my mother, I assure you! That shower didn't get us, and while Mamma went to bed to rest, I was taken a half mile or more up Mr. Blood's brook in Mosey Glen - beautiful to see. The whole place is wonderfully attractive, even tho I didn't see the highest tops, for a busting old shower marched through the valley and drenched things. We had a big fire in the fireplace and a grand dinner - then there came a brisk cold wind and fair skies - except for the very tip-tops. We came away about four, but first I was taken four miles down the valley to have a look up into King's and Jefferson Ravines. The clouds kindly let me in the best of the Castellated Ridge, and in themselves those clouds were wonderful. Mamma had three coats on coming home - but was warm enough, thanks be. She enjoyed it very much, and you may be sure I did. The valley is much narrower than here and 500 or 600 feet higher, and is appreciably different in the way things look. It's grander, but I'm not sure that it's better to stay in, except for the tramping. The trails centre there unmistak(i?)ably.
Saturday three people left - we miss them. Mrs. Clifford's sister, Miss Rogers, came. It was a glorious day, and Miss B, Miss S and I fared forth for Middle. Lovely view. The climb is easy. We arrived at eleven - and there was Bald Cap straight ahead - so we decided to go as far on its vertical trail as we could follow it surely. Of course we got to the top, but we left out Dream Lake, a little poll a half mile farther, because of a blow-down on the trail. The Bald Cap trail matches Chocoma & Whiteface just about, tho the easy lower part was not as long. The view from Middle is better, however, since there are more trees on Bald Cap. It was just fun!
Prof. Clifford, bless his dear heart, is going to take us up Gorham Moriah tomorrow if the weather permits, but three lovely days are almost too much to expect - and it's Miss B's last day. I'd like to know her history. Miss S- being a Christian Scientist, can't be lame, but she hitches in her movements! Miss B & I rejoice in talking about our "lames"!
Honey - want me to engage rooms up here for the four of us for next summer? There are rooms and rooms - some are n.g. Of course we might not come. Rooms engaged are like college applications! I think we could get good ones for July, but would probably have to take poorer ones in August. Most of Miss Gates' steadies come about Aug. 1. Tell me what you think about it. But don't you plan to stay in Newburyport! I'm quite firm about that. It is n.g. as a summer place for you, and that's all there is to it.
My mother wants to go down to the house so I'll have to stop.
I've come up the Knoll to write a bit more as there's still nearly an hour of daylight. To continue - it seems to me that for the money $8-$10 per week according to room, this place combines the desirables for our mothers and our selves very well. The cream saves the board which otherwise might be a little slim, though it's up to Pemaquid Hotel seems to me, lobsters omitted. The people are much that sort. By the way, the Cliffords had a house there 2-3 summers several years ago. Miss Gates is agreeable, albeit she undoubtedly could be otherwise. But so far I've found her ready to meet all sudden demands for lunches &c. There is an abundance of pleasant short walks - far more than at Pemaquid for instance, and there's harder climbing if we want it. I'd love to have a hatchet and a paint pot and fix a few trails. They need so little. As far as a good time goes, being lazy, I'd rather come here than hire the Phillips house, which however is an alternative which is cheaper and possible. Last year that cost us $5.50 or $6 a week, varying more or less - not safe to reckon under $6 - and it was work, but of course there was more space in the house, too, and perchance Mrs. Shepherd's house would also have a sewing machine as the house did last summer. I should like to know your feelings. Of course we can't either of us decide definitely now - but it does no harm to cast an eye ahead. I'm rather endeavoring to get my mother to sell her house when convenient and purchase an annuity so as to get a greater income as well as peace of mind. Of course that means losing the principal, but she'll live to get it all unless she goes back on the family history. She would get 15-16% at her age.
I regret to see a cloud coming in via the Glen. Tomorrow's weather? Its going to be a lovely sunset however.
Jolly, honey - I'd like a tent on this knoll where O. Hunt had his - and a little room in the house for the two of us for rains &c. Just talk to O. Hunt about that! I'll bet Miss Gates would get us a tent. Oh, honey, think of that! Here's love to you - your letter is in the house so I'll omit questions. Mail here is uncertain - They carry it by - and omit to send it &c, so never worry if you fail to get my letters. When do you go to S.H.?
Love always -
Abby -