ur father and I rather expect to go to East River, Conn., tomorrow to
help Mrs. Washburn celebrate her seventieth birthday; but the weather is
so cold he doubts whether I had better go. A. went on a long drive on
Friday and brought back a host of wild flowers, which I tried with some
failure and some success to paint.

_May 19th._--We went to East River on Monday afternoon and came home on
Thursday, making a delightful visit. On Tuesday Mrs. W. and I went to
Norwich to see the Gilmans. I was very tired when we got back, and had
to go to bed at half-past seven. The next day it rained; so Mrs. W. and
I fell to painting. She became so interested in learning Mrs. Fisher's
system that she got up at five the next morning and worked two hours. In
the evening your father gave his lecture at a little club-room, got up
chiefly by Mr. and Mrs. Washburn at their own expense. It is just such
a room as I should like to build at Dorset. On Thursday morning Mrs.
W. took me out to drive through their own woods and dug up some wild
flowers for me. A. has a Miss Crocker, an artistic friend from Portland,
staying with her--a very nice, plucky girl. She wants me to let her take
my portrait. [5] H. is full of a story of a pious dog, who was only fond
of people who prayed, went to church regularly, and, when not prevented,
to all the neighborhood prayer-meetings, which were changed every week
from house to house; his only knowledge of where they would be held
being from Sunday notices from the pulpit! I believe this the more
readily because of Pharaoh's always going to my Bible-reading at Dorset
and never barking there, whereas if I went to the same house to call he
barked dreadfully.

We are constantly wondering what you boys will be. Good men, I hope, at
any rate. Good-night, with a kiss from your affectionate mother.

The substance of the following letter of Mrs. Washburn, giving an
account of the visit to East River, as also her impressions of Mrs.
Prentiss, was written in response to one received by her from an old
friend in Turk's Island: [6]

I am most thankful that we had that last visit from dear Mrs. Prentiss.
It was a rare favor to us that she came. Her health was very delicate,
and a slight deviation from the regular routine of home life was apt to
give her sleepless nights. Dr. P. had sent us word that he was going to
be in New Haven, and would give us a call before returning to New York.
We' were overjoyed at the prospect of