My dearest Tomity,

This is a busy time for us all, you are plugging away at law and we are plugging away at various preparations for Xmas. I feel quite confused sometimes and hardly know what I am doing. We are getting the poultry away from Teeswater, May Stevens is getting it for us. I hope it will be good.

To-day Dr. and Mrs. Fletcher are giving an "At Home" to the officials of the church. It hardly seems possible that they are really going out of the Manse, and I am sorry to say that Charlie Murray has lost his position with Hendrie. The house he was supposed to give Mrs. Fletcher he had no money to buy and it really belongs to Mrs. Hendrie so it is all very sad. What is the end of it all I don't know, but it is a very serious thing for them all.

Ruby expects to leave Ottawa on Thursday, but I think will stay over night with Constance Henderson. C. wrote inviting her and as the train is seldom on time, I advised her to accept it; I thought you could find out by telephone when the train was expected and meet her, as your exams would be over and come up with her Friday morning. She will tell you what train she means to take. It is too bad your expectations are not realized in that office. Would Delamere, Reesor &c. be any good? Mr. Chisholm, or rather they are his agents. I really do not think you can hope for salary, I had never expected you would get it, all you can look for is the best office for getting experience. Of course if you get settled and do not require to stay till Thursday, why just come home. We are having steady cold weather, am afraid we are in for another winter of it. I sent my letter last week to the office, because I was a little late and I thought you wrote from there. Well dearie, I hope you are getting on well with your work and not finding it too wearisome or arduous. With fondest love.

Your loving mother

M.B. McQuesten