My dear Calvin,

I was much cheered by your letter coming this afternoon to hear of your various entertainments. Am so thankful to think to have such pleasant kind people around you. I am ashamed to have been so slow in getting off the "Punchs" but various things have intervened. You would be sorry to hear that Turk the caretaker of St. Paul's was buried to-day after ten days illness, which was brought on by the heavy snow cleaning of that storm. We all feel so sorry, he was so particularly good in helping with the sending off of the Indian clothing, did all the packing so finely. Mrs. Geo. Thomson was inquiring for you to-day. I am trying to get another girl, for we do not know when Annie's wrist will be fit for work. It is a most unfortunate accident for all concerned. Mary and Hilda are up at the S.[Sunday] School Festival. Mr. Newton died to-day. Mrs. Ketchen and Sonny and her mother are off to New York. It has been thawing for a day or two, so at last Peter has been able to get the ice off all round, the state of the streets has been terrible and people have been falling on all sides. Well, I must just close and get this posted. I wonder if it will reach you to-morrow night. There will not be many "Punchs." It is not so very good lately. With much love.

Your loving mother

M.B. McQuesten