,--are yielding to reason and calmer
knowledge. Had I but been educated in the knowledge of such
men as Jefferson, Franklin, Rush! I have learned now to know
them partially. And I rejoice, if only because my father and
I can have so much in common on this topic. All my other
pursuits have led me away from him; here he has much
information and ripe judgment. But, better still, I hope to
feel no more that sometimes despairing, sometimes insolently
contemptuous, feeling of incongeniality with my time and
place. Who knows but some proper and attainable object of
pursuit may present itself to the cleared eye? At any rate,
wisdom is good, if it brings neither bliss nor glory.'

* * * * *

_March_, 1834.--Four pupils are a serious and fatiguing charge
for one of my somewhat ardent and impatient disposition.
Five days in the week I have given daily lessons in three
languages, in Geography and History, besides many other
exercises on alternate days. This has consumed often eight,
always five hours of my day. There has been, also, a great
deal of needle-work to do, which is now nearly finished, so
that I shall not be obliged to pass my time about it when
everything looks beautiful, as I did last summer. We have
had very poor servants, and, for some time past, only one.
My mother has been often ill. My grandmother, who passed the
winter with us, has been ill. Thus, you may imagine, as I am
the only grown-up daughter, that my time has been considerably
taxed.

'But as, sad or merry, I must always be learning, I laid
down a course of study at the beginning of winter, comprising
certain subjects, about which I had always felt deficient.
These were the History and Geography of modern Europe,
beginning the former in the fourteenth century; the Elements
of Architecture; the works of Alfieri, with his opinions
on them; the historical and critical works of Goethe and
Schiller, and the outlines of history of our own country.

'I chose this time as one when I should have nothing to
distract or dissipate my mind. I have nearly completed this
course, in the style I proposed,--not minute or thorough. I
confess,--though I have had only three evenings in the week,
and chance hours in the day, for it. I am very glad I
have undertaken it, and feel the good