You cannot imagine what a terrible shock your letter gave me. Owing to Gr. Pa. being ill, Mother didn’t send me word of Alice’s trouble. As soon as I received the sad news at 3.30 this afternoon or rather yesterday, I went post haste to the store and sent Martin to Taunton on the 5 o’clock train thinking it was possible Alice was at home. Martin said immediately after reading your letter, “How funny Rev. Mother didn’t telegraph as soon as she missed Alice?” But I concluded you had a good reason. Martin would not allow me to telegraph you till he saw Mother and Alfred. As it happened, it was just as well. He has just returned from Taunton, having left on the mid-night train and brought me both the telegrams you sent Ma.
Now, dear Mother, please write your more than anxious friend, what has been the cause of all this anxiety. I know my dear Sister Alice would not cause any one she loves as dearly as she does you, any trouble without good cause. I can never forget how affectionately and kind she spoke of you during her visit here. For that kindness to dear Alice we have never forgot you in our poor prayers. Tell Alice for me she will be more than welcome to come to Sister Nellie if she is the least unhappy. My heart is most broken with the thought that my visit to Holyoke was the cause of her leaving us.
Give her my fondest love and tell her if she don’t come to write me immediately. I hardly know what I am writing, I mean, if she wants me to come for her.
Trusting everything is once more peaceful & happy with you all especially Alice.