over all the time and drinking up our tea!"

On my asking her about the Bible-reading, she said she got through with
it very well, expressed surprise at the large attendance, and spoke of
the deep interest manifested. After tea she sat with us in the parlor
for some time and then, kissing M. good-night, omitted Hatty and the
boys (a most unusual thing), remarking, as she left for her chamber,
"Well, I'm not going to kiss all this roomful."

_Friday, Aug.9th_--A severe thunder-storm had set in early last night
and continued at short intervals throughout the day. She was very
anxious that Dr. Vincent should enjoy his visit, and on his account
was disturbed by the weather; otherwise, a thunder-storm seemed to
exhilarate her, as is said to have been the case with her father. She
spent most of Friday in her "den," finishing a little picture and
chatting from time to time with the girls who were busy in the adjoining
room. Dr. Vincent and I sat a part of the forenoon on the piazza under
her window and whiled away the time, he in telling and I in listening to
any number of amusing stories. She called the attention of M. and H. to
our unclerical behavior: "Just hear those doctors of divinity giggling
like two schoolgirls!" But nobody enjoyed more an amusing story, or told
one with more zest than she did herself.

I forget whether it was on Friday, or an earlier day, that she showed me
a remarkable letter she had received, during my absence at the sea-side,
from London. It was written by a young wife and mother nearly related to
two of the most honored families of England, and sought her counsel in
reference to certain questions of duty that had grown out of special
domestic trials. "Stepping Heavenward," the writer said, had formed an
era in her religious life; she had read it through _from fifty to sixty
times_; it had its place by the side of her Bible; and no words could
express the good it had done her, or the comfort she had derived from
its pages. "The Home at Greylock" had also been of great help to her as
a wife and mother; and she could not but hope that one whose books had
been such a blessing to her, might be able to render her still greater
and more direct aid by personal counsel. The letter, which was
beautifully written and was full of the most grateful feelings, appealed
very strongly to her sympathy. But it was never answered.

_Saturday, Aug. 10th_--She had a tolerable night, but on coming down to
breakfast