ife and two daughters of our statesman and friend were over in
England, so that his family connections didn't spread as if he had been
President of the United States. But then he had a great many honest
friends, and that made up for it considerably. There stood Mr. and Mrs.
A. J. Johnson, who had carpeted their stone steps, set up a tent over
their hospitable door, and turned their parlors into a blooming garden,
just to show the respect they had for him; and they did it beautifully,
making his friends theirs. At any rate, I can answer for one; for any
person who does honor to a Vermont man who has glorified his State, can
count on the faithful friendship of Phoemie Frost during his natural
life.

At eleven o'clock, exactly, we all crowded around Mr. Greeley, and shook
hands with him over again. Then we shook hands with Mrs. Johnson, who
looked sweet, and was nice as nice could be; and with Mr. Johnson, and
so on. After that, we all flocked out, with cloaks and hoods on, feeling
that an evening like that was a refreshing season which will not be
forgotten by some of us, so long as we live.

One thing I forgot to mention--and I do it now, with tears in my eyes.
In the front parlor, on a line with Mr. Greeley's picture, was one that
made the heart ache in my bosom, and which will bring tears into your
eyes, one and all, I know. It was the picture of Alice Cary. You have
read her poetry; you know how good she was from that poetry; but I have
learned some things about her here, that, as a Society, you should hear
about. But I respect her memory so much that it must be in a report by
itself. She was a great friend of Mr. Greeley's, and her shadow seemed
to smile on him as it hung upon the wall.

XXX.

LEAP YEAR.

Do you know that this is Leap Year? Do you begin to feel the glorious
flood of liberty which it lets in upon the female women of this country?
As a society and as individuals, let us press forward to the mark of the
prize--I beg pardon.

This is not exactly a religious subject, though it does relate to the
hymeneal altar, at which we have never yet been permitted to worship--a
lasting and burning shame, which I, for one, begin to feel more deeply
every day of my life.

True, my own prospects are brightening and glorifying, but circumstances
have brought them, for the present, to a dead halt. But for the burst
of golden sunshine let into my sad destiny by this opening Leap Year, I
should be growing p