477 Dudley St.
Oct 22. 1878
 
My dear Carrie -
 
How truly dreadful it is of me not to have acknowledged the receipt of your letter containing the [...]. [A?]. orders, but some how it entirely slipped my mind -
 
Hear my present surroundings & then imagine the letter you are to receive. Hour late. I have retired to my room






for the night. I am ready for bed and my hair is in such a muddle for I have been to a lecture this evening -- the “Mind and Brain” and oh! it was so very deep that it required the closest attention, it was one of a course of six lectures that I am attending -
 
You seem to be enjoying riding this autumn very much, I intend to




go to riding school this winter (if my back will permit) as I have never ridden at all & it must be great fun -
 
You and the young man with the fast brothers seem to be having a pretty good time together but is it?
 
Last week I was quite disappointed as I went to [...] parties a lunch party and a concert Had a very good time at all but


nothing startling as [any?]. [Day?] after tomorrow I expect my sister [over?] [to?] visit [me?]. She is very amiable and a change of air & scene are desirable -
 
Do you fully intend to go back and [...ing] “82. I shall take up my studying next month. I don’t quite see how I can before - I am getting so awfully lazy I am


ashamed of myself. Lately I have been exerting myself a little on the subject of dress making. What a bore it is -
 
Letter from Lizzie Lathrop tonight she will be at home this year and winter [to?] but study here. We are having such glorious weather that Miss Hughes & I are going to Lancard (where we were at school together) some day


this week. it is such fun to go back to one’s old school and especially such a small one you are so looked up to as “one of the old girls” which is very funny -
 
Did you get your [...d?] [...ool?] thing done in time for the wedding and did you have a good time at it?
 
Do you know any thing pretty to


make for Christmas. I am just in the middle of a shawl for Mother and macramé lace [...] which I am much interested the latter is for my sister. Have you seen any of it? but of course you have some with [...] for upholstery work -
 
Good night
and sweet repose
 
Your loving
friend
Mary L. [Huckins?] -