RK-528

Thursday Evening -

The Grove April 15th 1858

Dear Brother mine -

J B received yours of April 9th by to days mail - Why don't you ever speak of coming home? We want to have the pleasure of expecting you.

Cora had a letter from Charlie to day, He is homesick and says he does not get letters from you, Poor boy, must be "terribly" lonesome, I expect you will be able to sympathise with him -

I have been at Aunt Avise's, Aunt Carries, Uncle Alonzo's, Mr Dearloves, and Mr Harrawers to day, haven't I done well?

I cut and arranged some beautiful bouquets this morning, one for Laurance to take to Chicago "to the express office", or rather to "some one", in the office. There is a bouquet of lovely fragrant Hyanynths on the table where I am writing, and the whole air is heavy with their perfume

Uncle Joe came over yesterday for

another load of apple trees, and started for home this morning with a good lot.

Mrs Updyke and "Jutie" came over this afternoon, - they were as agreeable as usual

Mrs Updyke is coming over after some things, next week -

Rosa has been down at Aunt Avises this last week and more -

Aunt Delé is here and she and Mother are as usual in a warm discussion, about "Delia Phillips" ect, ect, ect, - very interesting, and pleasant, you can't imagine how queer it is to listen to them - I begin to "hate" gossip as much as you do - I do think there are plenty of things to talk about, without "picking peoples faults out" and "enlargeing" on them - as certain friends of ours do.

I have lately written sevral business letters for Father, don't you approve of that? -

Every morning I think, "Now to day I will do a great deal", but when night comes

I find that the day is gone and I have accomplished nothing. The time is taken up in sweeping, dusting, cooking, sewing, reading, "just a little", and numberless little things that use up "lots" of precious moments without showing any good results - It is a true saying that "womans work is never done" Even now I aught to be helping, "work in the kitchen, instead of writing.

We have not got a girl yet, and do not know when we shall -

We do not get any "specimens" nowadays - I can not cllect my thoughts enough to write -

With much love

In haste Sister Dalce -

Friday Morning -

Dear Bob -

I have just been writing to Mr Lapham - I ttold him you would probably write him when and where to send the plants. I sent him an invitation to

come and bring them himself -

This is a glorious morning, and as pleasant as it was gloomy last night - but it is still quite cold -

Maj is just as, busy as he can be, and so I have been all the morning, and expect to be all the rest of the day -

I is so bright that we shall probably have "lots" of people here to day -

I hope I shall have a long letter from you tomorrow -

I arranged some exquisite shells of flowers this morning -

I hat some Claytonias and other little flowers in to press this morning -

In haste Dalce -

[page turned upside down] 16th

I was called out of bed Wednesday morning, and went down to old Peet place and staid all day - a bad abstenial case - tired me out; but I don't refuse calls now - though 'tis bad to leave the Major all alone