ing of
Johnny. He is the youngest boy, about nine years old, I think, and you
will remember they lost Philip, a beautiful child, born the same day as
our G., the summer we were at Hunter. When the despatch came papa and M.
thought it was bad news about you, and I only thought of Mr. Stearns!
There is no accounting for the way in which the human mind works. And
now for bed, you sleepy head.

_Monday._--A splendid day, and we have all been as busy as bees, if
not as useful,--H. making a whip to chastise the cow with, M., Nep and
myself collecting mosses and toadstools; of the latter I brought home
185! We were out till dinner-time, and after dinner I changed the
mosses in my baskets and jardinet, no small job, and M. spread out her
treasures. She has at last found her enthusiasm, and I am so glad not
only to have found a mate in my tramps, but to see such a source of
pleasure opening before her as woods, fields and gardens have always
been to me. We lighted this morning on what I supposed to be a
horned-headed, ferocious snake, and therefore took great pleasure in
killing. It turned out to be a common striped snake that had got a frog
partly swallowed, and its legs sticking out so that I took them to be
horns. Nep relieved his mind by barking at it. I announced at dinner
that I was going to send for Vick's catalogue of bulbs, which news was
received with acclamation. The fact is, we all seem to be born farmers
or florists; and unless you bring us home something in the agricultural
line, I don't know that you can bring us anything we would condescend to
look at. It is awful to read of the carnage going on in Europe.

_Aug. 27th._--Papa got home Tuesday night. Johnny Schaff's death was
from a fall; he left the house full of life and health, and in a few
minutes was brought in insensible, and only lived half an hour.... I
take no pleasure in writing you, because we feel that you are not likely
to get my letters. Still, I can not make up my mind to stop writing.
Never was a busier set of people than we. In the evening I read to the
children from the German books you sent them; am now on Thelka Von
Grumpert's, which is a really nice book. I tell papa we are making an
idol out of this place, but he says we are not.

_Tuesday._--We all set out to climb the mountain near Deacon Kellogg's.
We snatched what we could for our dinner, and when we were ready to eat
it, it proved to be eggs, bread and meat, cake, guava jelly, cider an