k herself so much
superior to the women of other nationalities? Our women will have to
come to it,--so grandmother says,--in another generation or two, and in a
hundred years, according to her prophecy, there will be a new set of old
"Miss Pollys" and "Miss Betseys" who have lived half a century in the
same families, respectful and respected, cherished, cared for in time of
need (citizens as well as servants, holding a ballot as well as a broom,
I tell her), and bringing back to us the lowly, underfoot virtues of
contentment and humility, which we do so need to carpet the barren and
hungry thoroughfare of our unstratified existence.

There, I have got a-going, and am forgetting all the news I have to tell
you. There is an engagement you will want to know all about. It came to
pass through our famous boat-race, which you and I remember, and shall
never forget as long as we live. It seems that the young fellow who
pulled the bow oar of that men's college boat which we had the pleasure
of beating got some glimpses of Georgina, our handsome stroke oar. I
believe he took it into his head that it was she who threw the bouquet
that won the race for us. He was, as you know, greatly mistaken, and
ought to have made love to me, only he did n't. Well, it seems he came
posting down to the Institute just before the vacation was over, and
there got a sight of Georgina. I wonder whether she told him she didn't
fling the bouquet! Anyhow, the acquaintance began in that way, and now
it seems that this young fellow, good-looking and a bright scholar, but
with a good many months more to pass in college, is her captive. It was
too bad. Just think of my bouquet's going to another girl's credit! No
matter, the old Atalanta story was paid off, at any rate.

You want to know all about dear Dr. Butts. They say he has just been
offered a Professorship in one of the great medical colleges. I asked
him about it, and he did not say that he had or had not. "But," said be,
"suppose that I had been offered such a place; do you think I ought to
accept it and leave Arrowhead Village? Let us talk it over," said he,
"just as if I had had such an offer." I told him he ought to stay.
There are plenty of men that can get into a Professor's chair, I said,
and talk like Solomons to a class of wondering pupils: but once get a
really good doctor in a place, a man who knows all about everybody,
whether they have this or that tendency, whether when they are sick th