of men reading it. Have you had The Story
Lizzie Told, Six Little Princesses, The Little Preacher, and Nidworth?
Neither of these is really a child's book, and the next time you are
sick, if you have not read them, I shall love to send them to you. If
this is conceit, I have the effrontery not to be a mite ashamed of it!

The following notes to Mrs. Fisher show how pleasantly she sympathised
with her teacher as a young mother, while taking lessons of and admiring
her as an artist:

NEW YORK, _February 4, 1878._

What a relief to have the days come long again! On Saturday I found in
A.'s portfolio a study you lent her; exquisite ferns behind the fallen
trunk of a tree, and a tiny group of orange-colored toad-stools. I will
send it with its two lovely sisters, when I get through with them. I
wish you could get time to come to see me, or that I could get time to
go to see you. But it is my unlucky nature to have a great many irons in
the fire at once. I am glad your baby keeps well, and hope he will grow
up to be a great comfort to you.

_Feb. 23d._--I have just received your letter. I have my hands full and
there is no need to hurry you.

As to "worry" not being of faith, I do not suppose it is. But a young
mother can not be _all_ faith. I do not envy people who love so lightly
that they have no wringing out of the heart when they lose their dear
ones; nor can I understand her who says she can sit and read the
newspaper, while her babies are crying. "None are so old as they who
have outlived enthusiasm"; and who should be enthusiastic if a mother
may not? I don't think God has laid it up against me that I nearly
killed myself for the sake of my babies, because when He took two away
within three months of each other, my faith in Him did not falter....
Dear Mrs. Fisher, if you love God nothing but His best things will ever
come to you. This is the experience of a very young, old woman, and I
hope it will comfort you.

_April 21st._--Such a fight as I have had with your exquisite studies,
and how I have been beaten! I failed entirely in the golden-rod, and do
not get the brilliant yellow of the mullein flower; one could not easily
fail on the saggitarius, and the clover was tolerable. I think I will
take no more lessons at present, as I have much to do in getting another
boy fitted for college. After I get settled at Dorset I want to make a
desperate effort to paint from nature, and if I have any success, send
to you