BLACKWELL FAMILY ALICE STONE BLACKWELL KITTY BARRY 1913Dorchester, Mass. Written at Chilwark M.R. Aug. 28, 1913 Dear Kitty: The picture card of Kilmun is very interesting, & gives one quite an idea of the place. I am sorry if any cards were lost because of insufficient postage. I wish the P.O. had first sent them on & collected from me at this end! Glad also that Khaki has such good friends to help exercise him & make him happy. A few days ago Miss Reilly & I were invited over to the G.D.S. for dinner. The place is as lovely as ever, with the trees & the brook & the fine, cold spring. But it is clear to me that the family are overworked. Three children under four [*carpet & make us a visit! Always your affectionate cousin, Alice.*]years old -- two were babies - & no maid but [Viny?], who is over 70! Florence says that whenever she goes over there Charles is washing out Lawrence's diapers in the brook -- and Emma says Howard is a most admirable "second girl" when he is there, & washes & scours everything, & is indefatigable. Emma is certainly fortunate in having two of the most amiable & helpful men imaginable. But they can only be there off & on; & a household of that size needs more regular help. We had a beautiful dinner, & saw a new striped tent which Charles has set up near the brook, for his own special use when he wants [*I expect to go home about Sept. 4, though the Vineyard is so lovely I should like to stay through October. How I wish you could come over on a flying] it, he says. At other times everybody uses it, & how so tall a man as Charles can ever make use of it, I don't see. He certainly can't stretch himself at full length. It is a sort of a combination affair, a cot bed with tent roof, & either side will fold up. Elon has come on for a few weeks, much to everybody's joy. He & Nannie have decided to set up housekeeping & practise at Newburgh, N.Y. Reynold has gone home, much lamented, but looking in far better condition than when he came down. Aunt Nettie & her household go tomorrow, & the Brunos the next day. Poor little Beth is almost worked to death -- partly because she can't make the children mind, & they run [*old, which lives in her barn; and she invited me to go with her & call on Ethel Robinson, & so we rode over together.*]right over her. And her good husband, a most faithful & painstaking worker, has had his pay cut down to $18 per week, for no fault of his own; & so they are having hard times. I have decided to part with Sophie. I am sorry but it seems to be the best thing. I was only able to keep her last year by Emma's generously making me a present of $500 toward her salary, & now Emma herself is having unusually heavy expenses. And, between ourselves, I don't think Howard is able to make Uncle G's property pay so well as Uncle G did -- very naturally, having less experience. Besides, Uncle G's business gifts were uncommon. Moreover, I really do not need the constant services of a stenographer. I don't dictate letters, on an average, more than two hours in the course of a week, I think. Someone to do errands can be had at less than $2. per day. You ought to have seen what a queer & charming little creature Elizabeth was, the day we were over there. She wanted me to tell stories -- & she [*told one herself, which she is never tired of making Emma tell her -- about "little Emma." -- At this point Emma herself appeared, driving a very slow horse about 25 years*]