has conquered
death and brought life and immortality to light. If we think of her as
in the grave, we must own that hers was a hard lot; but she is not in a
grave; she is at home; she is well, she is happy, she will never know a
bereavement, or a day's illness, or the infirmities and trials of old
age; she has got the secret of perpetual youth.

But while these thoughts assuage our grief, they can not wholly allay
it. We have no reason to doubt that she would have given and received
happiness here upon earth, had she been spared; and we can not help
missing her, mourning for her, longing for her, out of the very depths
of our hearts. The only real comfort is that God never makes mistakes;
that He would not have snatched her from us, if He had not had a reason
that would satisfy us if we knew it. I can not tell you with what tender
sympathy I think of your return to your desolate home; the agonizing
meeting with your bereaved boys; the days and nights that have to be
lived through, face to face with a great sorrow. May God bless and keep
you all.

_To Mrs. Condict, Dorset, July 11, 1875._

I have been sitting at my window, enjoying the clear blue sky, and the
"living green" of the fields and woods, and wishing you were here to
share it all with me. But as you are not, the next best thing is to
write you. You seem to have been wafted into that strange sea-side spot,
to do work there, and I hope you will have health and strength for it.
One of the signs of the times is the way in which the hand of Providence
scatters "city folks" all about in waste places, there to sow seed that
in His own time shall spring up and bear fruit for Him. I was shocked
at what you said about Miss ---- not recognising you. It seemed almost
incredible. Mr. Prentiss has persuaded me to have a family Bible-reading
on Sunday afternoon, as we have no service, and studying up for it this
morning I came to this proverb which originated with Huss, whose name in
Bohemian signifies goose. He said at the stake: "If you burn a goose
a swan will rise from its ashes"; and I thought--Well, Miss ----'s
usefulness is at an end, but God can, and no doubt will, raise up a swan
in her place. About forty now attend my Bible-reading.

We have my eldest brother here and he is a perfect enthusiast about
Dorset, and has enjoyed his visit immensely. He said yesterday that
he had laughed more that afternoon than in the previous ten years. We
expect Dr. Stearns and his