after the Wedding - 1911

later that year...love the jaunty tone (sounds straight out of F.S. Fitzgerald)

Dalton, Mass May 27, 1911

Dear "Mrs. Chase": - "git wise to the name, ain't it a beaut!" How is "Mr. Chase"? Say kid, we haven't missed you yet, so cheer up. When do you want me to come? I'm ready at any time. Thanks for the postal, the elephant sure was a beaut. I suppose you want to hear about the after wedding affairs. Well, after Mr. and Mrs. Chase (that's you) left, never to be heard from again, we proceeded to clean up the mess. Daisey and Mrs. Mitchell and Mr. M went first and then we cleaned. Bob and Maggie started in on the parlor and hall. The rest were in the kitchen wiping dishes. When that was done, we sat around and sat around. The Weston girls, except Lilly, all went down to see Mrs. Tooley. When they came back, we sat around, and sat around. Then we sang a bit. Maggie and Bob and Fred did the most. Then Mr. Mouffet came back and we sat around, and sat around. The Lenoxites went at quarter past nine all except Mary + Bill, Little Edith, Big Edith, and Auntie. Then we sat around and sat around 'till Mr. Mouffet went, and we sat around some more and pulled everyone to pieces, you too kid, and said how handsome you looked and how you grinned and winked at Fred. After that we went to rest. I forgot to tell you on that fatal day that while you were puttingon your travelling suit, Hilda Footer called up to extend her congratulations to Mrs. Edward S. Chase. Saturday we cleaned up and didn't do much else. Sunday Mary, Maggie and I went to St. Barrington to see the little tads. Hot! Oh! Then we came back and went to bed. Monday the packing of your trunk started, continued until Tuesday night, Did anything get broken? Did you find the cook-book, the creamer and sugar and he two letters? The cards of all are here yet. Your gold beads are here, your white clip is here, and heaven only knows what ain't here. Did you have a lovely time on your vast trip to Canada, rather a long journey for ones so young. Did you miss your chamois with the junk on it! Oh! Joy! that was one good joke! I don't know that any one has died, or married since you went except that Coney Island was badly burned and School St. is being paved. Bridgmans have one hundred chickens and Harold has sold one of the Caxton's but don't say anything to anyone about it. It is not in the papers yet. Tuesday - Haven't had a chance to finish this before today. You must be having a swell time galavanting around. Do you act like honey-mooners or like plain people. Mrs. McWilliams had her John at church on Sunday. He is a dandy looking man, over six feet, black hair. She is mighty proud of him, introduced him to everybody. He didn't have spurs on either. He looks younger thyan she does but he is probably about the same. Both the boys came up the afternoon and Maggie was here for supper. It seemed natural to have a table full but we kind of missed your beaming countenance from behind the teapot. You may be able to gather something from this letter and maybe not. We spent the morning ironing, a great pleasure. We have a new ice-box, would you care to have the old one shipped at once? We also have the book cases. You can have the old one too if you care to. The ice box may do to put Ed in when he gets too hot, or if you do, he could put you in! May Easter peace be thine Ivy Elizabeth "Togo sends love to your old man" P.S. Ma will probably write soon, and Mary when she has time.