My dearest Calvin,

Your letter to Tom replying to all his questions came early in the week in only five days. I cannot understand at all about my letters, unless in absentmindedness I could have addressed them some place else, for I have written as usual every week, and after Tom wrote you, I wrote two within a day or two. Your answers were very satisfactory, the only thing we do not know is how you manage about the selling, as that Horning told Tom you had to see to the selling, but probably your can make a different arrangement. I have already written you, to go ahead and make arrangements, and we will arrange for the money next spring. Well, on Monday Labour Day Tom and I started off on the long talked of trip to see the Fonthill Nurseries. We took the T.H.& B.10:30 train to Welland, were rattled up in the bus to an hotel and had dinner not a very fine affair, but we were able to rest in the parlour till it was time to take the Radial car at 2:15. The day was perfect not too warm to enjoy being out. After about a fifteen minutes ride, we got out and walked up a country road with beautiful woods of forest trees on each side about twice as far as to John St. We found a very agreeable man at the office, who showed us over the grounds, it is in a beautiful situation surrounded by woods and the air was delicious and we sat about and rested till nearly six o'clock when the Trolley came.

We saw a great variety of evergreens most interesting and beautiful. I never saw anything like them, some had been there for twenty years and showed what they could become. Beautiful golden-tipped ones and then the Kastor and Colorado spruce were a bright light blue, it is when they grow larger you see how blue they can be and very fine Irish junipers. Then there was an immense hydrangea covered from the top to the ground with flowers. Then we saw most beautiful varieties of grasses making a very effective bed. Then we were much taken with a Chinese rose, it flowers the whole season, pink ones and white ones very sweet scented and grows in a very fine network which is not pruned and the leaves very stiff and glossy. We got back to Welland just in time to get a cup of tea and some bread and butter and jump into the bus. There were crowds of people but we got a good seat. The train was so long, that when we got out at Hamilton we found ourselves beyond John St. and there were two cars behind us.

Well, I was pretty tired next day, but was as able for my auxiliary meeting in the afternoon. Then next day Wednesday, I took tea with Mrs. Gregory at Mrs. Fletcher's. They were much interested to hear of the weddings but the doctor thought your sending me the money was the finest thing of all. I am so sorry that Hughie is not more of a man, he is just at home there, then Charlie Murray came in looking sleek and fat, joking as usual, he doesn't do anything either and the poor Bard looking very thin and serious. C. just lives on him. Dr. F. had been down to the Knox Coll. Senate meeting, where he had spoken for Mr. Cunningham, so did Prof. Ballantyne, but Principal Gandier was very strong for Rev. Law and so was J. A. McD. The doctor said they talked so much of his preaching but he might not be a teacher, but we well all hope for the best.

Tom is off to Toronto to-day and Mary went off on Tuesday to stay with Mary Taylor for the week and go to the Exhibition. H. & I are going down to Mrs. Proctor's to have five o'clock tea. The weather is so beautiful now. Isn't it terrible to think of Mr. Marsh's sudden death? A fearful blow for his wife, and I fancy he had been doing much better of late years and she would be having some peace. Harriman too, Willie Lyle has got on well. Just as I am writing a card from Ruby says she is feeling O.K. It is such a comfort.

Saturday morning or rather afternoon. Your letter has not come. Mary came home last night and Tom this morning. Hope you are quite well & prospering.

Your loving mother

M.B. McQuesten