My dear dear boy,

There is one thing this year that you can not complain of and that is the heat. You will not be roasting or rather "boiling" these days. This last attack of cold has made people almost hopeless, I think; however, probabilities say milder so we will cheer up.

I went down to see Mrs. Mullin and Mrs. Bell to-day, Mrs. M..'s sister in Montreal died, she was 80 yrs. of age. In Montreal the snow is so high piled up on the streets, that when you are on one side of the street you cannot see the lower story of the houses on the other side. Mrs. M.'s train was too late for her to come on, so she stayed over in Toronto.

Mrs. bell told me, that Herbie is quite in a quandary as to next year. The Professor Dr. Sapsbey, who is the one Herbie specially desires to be with is going to Cambridge and he is being strongly advised to go to Harvard, but of course, that would be a great expense. It seems Maurice Darling is there & has offered to share many things with Herbie. After that the plan is to go to Paris, after which the Professors at Pennsylvania wish him to return there and they promise him a fellowship and to find him a place. Do not let Herbie know I have told you all this and mention it to no one. The doctors at Philadelphia have told Herbie that the climate there is not good for him and that he should not stay, on account of the catarrh he now has. So you must be very careful of your health, dear, and not suffer like Herbie from ruined health. What is Maurice Darling going in for?

I see in to-day's paper the death of Prof. Chapman in England, he was one of the old set at Varsity, was like a thin pole, tall and a small bald head. You doubtless received my letter, approving most thoroughly of dropping the Varsity. It would have been a great satisfaction to you, I know, to have carried it on to the end and relieved me but one cannot do everything and as it is, I think, you are undertaking a great deal.

I told you once, the little Latin Dictionary is here, when you want it. Let me know when you want some money and how much. Ruby says they have a large school this year, fifty boarders the largest they have ever had; it once reached that number in Miss McBratney's time.

Nothing in the papers now, but the war, if they could only fight without killing one another, it would be a great relief to one's mind. The flowers at Cathedral at the Sanford Wedding cost $1000 but the bride's income is between $10[,000] and 15,000. Did you hear that Mr. Spratt had married Mrs. Bankier? Well, dearie, there is no news at all. I am thankful to say, that none of us has suffered from the grip like so many. I trust that you will escape it also. Cal. says he god rid of his indigestion as soon as he began horseback riding. We have indeed much to be thankful for, and we must never forget the giver of all these blessings, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him & He shall direct thy paths." With much love.

Your mother

[M.B. McQuesten]