My Grandfather’s future lies ahead of him on his fifteenth birthday

                                                                               Marblehead, Mass.,

                                                                               March 19, 1899

       My Dear Nephew Ray,

                 You see from the purple ink that I am writing in Uncle Henry’s study.  He is reading nearby & it’s pouring outside as it has been doing all day.

          I was very glad to get your nice letter, and had been looking for several weeks for a word from you.  I came very near sending out a postal & advertising for a boy about your age & size, color of hair etc., but as Polly’s(his sister) letter to her grandmother came & mentioned such a boy, as having arrived at North Brookfield, I tried to wait patiently for further news.

               Let me say right here, dear boy — the next time you go anywhere — it matters not where & are gone even a few days (He had been visiting then in Marblehead for four months) from home don’t forget after you leave to write a letter back the next day or as soon as possible telling of your pleasant visit & safe arrival home.

          We missed you very much & longed for a sight of our fair haired boy.

          It did my heart good to know that you had done well in your _____, & were, indeed ahead of your class.  How do you like geometry?  Can you do it justice without a knowledge of Algebra?  It’s time to _____  to tea — the bell has just rung — will you come too?

           We’ve just finished, & I have prepared (name of pet)‘s meat for him.  But the lazy pussy is still sleeping, & is not ready for his supper. 

We’ve had a very disagreeable winter on the whole — Uncle Henry has not been out on his bicycle yet.  Last year I planted my sweetpeas on your birthday  — this year I shall not get them in for two or three weeks –.

I send with this the “Review of Reviews” — remembering your preference for it — as a little birthday remembrance, & in it a handkerchief for Polly.

We are all well — Grandma is quite over her attack of grip.  How are you?  Tell me about your eyes when you write.  Do you remember Grandma’s and Aunt Hattie’s words, and try to follow them?

I have received a catalogue from Dartmouth, & you shall have it later.  I think it will be Dartmouth, Amherst, or Trinity.  At all three, I believe, you can go in on your Regent’s (examinations).

Don’t forget that gargle that Dr. Hall gave you — 1 teaspoon of borax, soda, and salt to a glass of water. For ordinary occasions use a very small teaspoon — or 1/2 would do.

Give much love to Mamma & remember me to Charlie — I love to hear from you — and your Grandmother too — a letter from you is a great treat.

Uncle Henry has a very warm spot in his heart for you, & sends you his love and birthday greetings, and says I am writing for him too.

With kisses, fifteen, for your birthday & much love from Grandma and your

Aunt Hattie

Write soon to us dear boy — you are a dear boy & needn’t say you don’t want me to call you that, for I shall.  Tell me about your studies when you write.

With the death of his father, who was Harriett’s brother, and the remarriage of his mother, Rena, — Aunt Harriet assumed this sort of role in the life of her favorite nephew. For the next fifty years she was emotional and financial support for Ray Carrol, his children and his children’s children to the point of bequeathing college tuition funds to this writer, her great-great nephew, when she died in 1951.