s left is apt to cut up. He
hinted that I was "so fond of admiration" that he was afraid I should,
if he died. On questioning him as to what he meant by this abominable
speech, he said he meant to pay me a compliment!!! that he thought
me very susceptible when people loved me and very fond of being
loved--which I am by him; all other men I hate. My cousin G. dined with
us on Friday and took me to the meeting held annually at Dr. Adams'
church. I like him ever so much, though he _is_ a man. G. has brought
me in some dandelions from the church-yard. We have not had one day
of severe cold yet, and there is a great deal of sickness about in
consequence.

_Friday._--I spent a part of last evening in writing an article about
Mrs. C.'s poem for the Sabbath at Home, and have a little fit of
indigestion as my reward. Have been to see my sick woman with jelly and
consolation, and from there to Mrs. D., who gave me a beautiful account
of Mrs. Coming's last days and of her readiness and gladness to go. I
was at the meeting at Dr. Rogers' yesterday afternoon and heard old Dr.
Tyng for the first time, and he spoke beautifully.... Well, Chi Alpha
[2] is over; we had a very large attendance and the oysters were burnt.
It is dreadfully trying when Maria never once failed before to have them
so extra nice. Dr. Hall came and told me he had been sending copies of
Fred and Maria and Me to friends in Ireland. Martha and Jane, and M. and
H. were all standing in a row together when the parsons come out to tea,
and one of them marched up to the row, saying to papa, Are these your
children? when Martha and Jane made a precipitate retreat into the
pantry. Good-night, darling; lots of love to Mrs. Smith and all of them.
Your affectionate "Marm-er."

_11th._--Yours came to-day, and papa and I had a brief duel with
hair-pins and pen-knives as to which should read it aloud to the other,
and I beat. I should have enjoyed Eigensinn, I am sure; you know I have
read it in German.... The children all three are lovely, and what with
them and papa and other things my cup is running over tremendously. I
have just heard that a poor woman I have been to see a few times, died
this morning. I always came away from her crestfallen, thinking I was
the biggest poke in a sick-room there ever was, but she sent me a dying
message that quite comforted me. She had once lived in plenty, but was
fearfully destitute, and I fear she and her family suffered for want of
com