ock's funeral. I declare, if
it isn't snowing again, and the sun is shining! Now comes a letter from
Uncle Charles, saying that your Uncle H. has lost that splendid little
girl of his; the only girl he ever had, and the child of his heart of
hearts. Mrs. W. says she never saw papa and myself look so well, but
some gentleman told Mr. Brace, who told his wife, who told me, that I
was killing myself with long walks. I can not answer your questions
about Mr. ----'s call. So much is all the time going on that one event
speedily effaces the impression of another.

_March 12th._--Julia Willis spent the evening here not long ago, and
made me laugh well. She took me on Friday to see Fanny Fern, who hugged
and kissed me, and whom it was rather pleasant to see after nearly, if
not quite, thirty years' separation. She says nobody but a Payson could
have written Stepping Heavenward, which is absurd. _March 17th._--I went
to the sewing circle [4] and helped tuck a quilt, had a talk with Mrs.
W., got home at a quarter of one and ate two apples, and have been since
then reading the secret correspondence of Madame Guyon and Fenelon in
old French.

_Saturday, 19th._--Have just seen M. to the Conservatory; met Dr.
Skinner on the way home, who said he had been reading Stepping
Heavenward, and he hoped he should step all the faster for it. Z. has
often invited us to come to see her new home, and as the 16th comes on
a Saturday, we are talking a little of all going up to lunch with her.
_Evening_.--It has been such a nice warm day. I had a pleasant call from
Mrs. Dr. ----. She asked me if I did not get the theology of Stepping
Heavenward out of my father's "Thoughts," but as I have not read them
for thirty years, I doubt if I did, and as I am older than my father was
when he uttered those thoughts, I have a right to a theology of my own.

_Monday._--Yesterday, in the afternoon, we had the Sunday-school
anniversary, which went off very well. Mr. C. came to tea; after it and
prayers, we sat round the table and I read scraps from Madame Guyon
and Fenelon, and we talked them over. Papa was greatly pleased at the
latter's saying he often stopped in the midst of his devotions to play.

Quand je suis seul, je joue quelquefois comme un petit enfant, meme en
faisant oraison. Il m'arrive quelquefois de sauter et de rire tout seul
comme un fou dans ma chambre. Avant-hier, etant dans la sacristie
et repondant a une personne qui me questionnait, pour