Oct 15th /85
My Dear Cousin,
I am taking a great liberty in writing to you, but hope you will not be offended, we were all so very pleased to receive a letter from you, & dear Miss Hoyt I wish we were near each other to enjoy ourselves together. I have but one female cousin of the same age as myself, & I do not see her very often; so I thought I would make bold & write to you. I hope you do not get so much wet in your country as we get here for it seems as if we are always having rain, but I suppose we must not complain, but suppose it is sent for some wise purpose. My brother has shown me the letter & I hope you possess good eyes, if not you had better borrow someone's eye glasses to aid you I hear from my father that you have but one brother so you cannot realize what I have to under go, I have five & I only wish you could hear the noise they make sometimes, enough to send one distracted.
Mother is gone to London a week or two, so I have to stand in her place. I am very sure you will set me down as a very sour customer, but they tell me I am older in ways, than in years, so you must overlook this, knowing the cause thereof. I hope you will soon give us the pleasure of seeing your photograph, we admire Cousin Grace's very much. I think the Nelson People are better artists than our Stroud folks are. I am afraid that I shall tire you with all this epistle, & it is time for me to retire. I will close this with the fondest love to yourself & dearest, Miss Hoyt & my kindest regards to Mr. Hoyt.1
To Miss Ina [sic] L. Hoyt
1. Mabel could either have been referring to Inez' father, William Hoyt, or to her brother, Joseph D. Hoyt.-wbt
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