Letter and envelope from Mary Etta Syphus, Provo, Utah to John M. Bunker, Logan, Utah

Letter and envelope (with stamp) from Mary E. Syphus, Provo, Utah, to John M. Bunker, Logan, Utah, dated April 21, 1894.
Envelope addressed:
Mr. John M. Bunker,
Logan City,
Utah.
Provo, Utah,
April 21, 1894. Mr. John M. Bunker, Logan, Utah,
Dear Friend;-
Again I will attempt to write you a few lines, but I have very sad news to tell you. Bishop Lee departed this life on the 13th inst. after a short illness of four days. He was to meeting and preached the sermon on Sunday, and Monday noon he went home from his work, ill and before Friday noon he was dead. He leaves such a large family. I suppose you remember
Sizzie? She is the eldest of fourteen. Her ago school closed a short time / and she intended to come here next winter again, but I doubt whether she comes. We were shocked to hear such unexpected news. I had just started
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to study when Annie came in with our letters but we were unable to study after that. We could think nor talk or nothing else for several days but are beginning to get back to the old life once more. I know we will not feel it long like people will at home, for our minds have to be occupied with other things. It seems, when there is such a sudden death in a small place, that it casts a gloom over the whole community.
Well, I have written enough on this
strain I suppose.
I was very pleased to receive your letter but I don't think I am very proud of your compliments. However, you seem to think you are safe, seeing you are so far away. You are mistaken about the extra penny. Perhaps if I had given the extry penny he might have made a delicate little face, but as it was he had to do honest work. And when you talk about gum, it makes me wish I had some, but I think one chew would be enough
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at once. I will reserve the rest until I see you.
Annie received a letter from her father a while ago stating that he would come up and go to Salt Lake City about the time school closes, for the purpose of selecting goods if times continue to be lively down there. So if he does we will have time to do some visiting after school closes before going home though I am afraid we will be too impatient there, to start, to enjoy staying any longer.
I don't remember whether I told you of the rebuilding of the works at Bullionville. They have been working there all winter. Clara tells me that they have a telegraph office and electric lights there again. The mill in Conder Canyon, a few miles from home, has also been repaired and and they have been working ore from Helene there. So there seems to be a prospect of times being a little more lively than they have been.
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Oh, I must tell you the result of our composition contest. The rhetoric class got two points more than the other. Stories were just fine on both sides and it was a very interesting entertainment and quite exciting too I assure you. The Academy was o crowded, or rather the assembly ro/m was.
The regular Academy party came off last night. It was given this time~in the finest hall in town.
We were not in the spirit of dancing so we did not attend.
Well, dear friend, I hope you will excuse this miserable looking letter. Sometimes it seems like I cannot write at all, but I have so much to do before Monday I haven't time to be particular. Do you know, you wrote on Sunday and dated the 17th. You must be getting in a hurry too. I wrote home the same day and dated the 16th and afterward found it was the 15th.
I must conclude for this time.
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Hoping to hear from you again soon line 15
I remain yours sincerely, Mary. line 16
P.S. Harry's address is St. Thomas. line 17