[Some paragraph markings added for readability. Original letter has none.]Sunday eve 6.30
Dear Sadie:
This is the first minute I have had to-day to write to my girlie. The wind has blown hard and cooled off the earth thoroughly and I have been frozen all day. The wind went down with the sun. There is a S. School Convention in Norwalk to-morrow which I am very anxious to attend but I am going to stay home and save .40. Fairfield Church said they would come to G. to Union service on Fast Day but the Daughters must all come home to Fairfield for Thanksgiving. You will be surprised as most every one else was to now who united with the Church this morning. Walter Staples Mervin.
Mrs. G[-] had on the handsomest black suit I have seen yet. Most likely she got it in in [sic] New York when she went to Saratoga. The sewing society is to be at Mrs Bronson['s] on Wed. They are going to make aprons for another apron sale. Mrs. Hill is in bed ill with chills worse than in the spring. I did not think but what there would be something to put off our going there.
Your postal to Sam came Thursday morn. he was pleased to have it written to him[.] I decided not to put the carpet down in your room this fall. We put the things back, and rolled up carpet. After supper Papa and I went over to see Mother. The girl went home, and Eddie was staying with her nights. He came in and was anxious to hear about Johnnie's trip.
I told Mother about the woman that had been living with Mr. Briggs. I said I would go up the next morn and get her if I could. I got up extra early and started as soon as I ate breakfast. I stopped at Mrs. Horace Banks to see about black maria. She was not there. Then I stopped to ask Lydia to go with me, she said said [sic] ever so many different ones wanted the woman, no use to go for her. He could only say a few words, she took some things with her. She wanted eight dollars. Mother did not want to give but seven, but E. came in and said of course to give 8 and keep her[.] I went up to see Louise a few mon. Nellie gave me your letter to read.
I ate dinner with Mother. We had a nice dinner but the girl would not eat meat on Friday. So she gave her some bread & potatoes, no butter. Then I reached home pa had just finished dinner you can imagine what a pile of dishes I had to wash. Then I had a lunch and went to ironing. I sprinkled the things the day before but could not get time to iron. I ironed all the clothes of one wash, and two of my white tucked petticoats. Then Sam insisted on going to see Aunt H. (they came home the night before) washed the dishes and made up rye bread. Then we drove up there. I think they were looking for us. That made a pretty good day's work for me.
Yesterday I did another big day's work. Made wheat bread, rice pudding, cream cookies. Pa churned butter, made up beds, picked two chickins [sic] swept 3 rooms, washed oil cloth and sewed to-gether two breadths of carpet in sitting room that I had never finished since cleaning, and put away lots of things that were out of place. Fixed Sam off the S. twice, he went down to go fishing. He forgot pa['s] tobacco so he went back to L. He has gone so long I got worst will[.] I thought some thing had happened to him, and that tired me a good deal. This morn I had the dishes to wash and kitchen to sweep we got there just after first quartet. we did not stay to S.S. it was so late after communion.
After dinner Sam and I went over to see how Mother and "Louisa" got along. She was just coming out of the house (in Cockwad) with big bundle, so she rode with us [...]. Eddie was bringing a horse down to put in south of onion house. I asked him whose it was. He said one that L. came over in not a very stylish team.
Eddie said girl told Pearl she did not have enough to eat, and Paul went in and told Mother, but M. did not mention it to me. Eddie was so provoked with Arthur, instead of coming right after Church, he went to the dam [...] they were all through dinner. He had just gone down to see Mother. He sat there and he and Sam talked [...] then Louis came in. Mother gave me some quinces all cooked. I was uncovering the horse and I looked up and there stood L. C. & Nellie. L. raised his hat and said "How do you do, Aunt Sadie" and this is my wife. I shook hands with him, then with her, and said "I was very glad to see her" (which was not the truth) and she said the same, and spoke [...] being so cold. Mother started to go out with us but stopped to get Arther some quinces. I am glad she did not get this as she had on her long blue cloak & red hands around her neck.
If I am not sick to-morrow after three such hard day's work I shall think I am as well as ever. I want to clean the halls to-morrow if it is not to cold there. Mrs. Bronson said to day she wrote to Helen that you were going to write to her. I hope you will write as soon as you can or she will get tired of looking for a letter. It is now 8.30 I am going to bed. Sam has gone there is no more to write. I thought Aunt H. and S. would surely be down this eve. I shan't trouble myself to go there till they do come. Mr. & Mrs. Bradley have been married 33 yrs to-day. You better send some hand. home in a day or two so they will be sure to be ready for you when you come. I will send yours soon as I can by Tuesday. I hope you have found out about going back. Hope you can stay till Friday. Only two weeks now, before we can have our girlie again.
Arthur asked how you were now a days. You must not write much to us but save it till you come. I hope you won't forget how to talk.
Yours Mama