his best to
give him satisfaction. This was only proper in him, for he ought to
be very thankful that our father restrains his anger so much; for you
know he was rather violent _once_, and you've no idea, Charley, how
great a restraint he now lays on himself. He seems to me quite like a
lamb, and I am beginning to feel somehow as if we had been mistaken,
and that he never was a passionate man at all. I think it is partly
owing to dear Mr Addison, who visits us very frequently now, and papa
and he are often shut up together for many hours in the smoking-house.
I was sure that papa would soon come to like him, for his religion is
so free from everything like severity or affected solemnity. The
cook, and Rosa, and my dog that you named Twist, are all quite well.
The last has grown into a very large and beautiful animal, something
like the stag-hound in the picture-book we used to study together long
ago. He is exceedingly fond of me, and I feel him to be quite a
protector. The cocks and hens, the cow and the old mare, are also in
perfect health; so now, having told you a good deal about ourselves, I
will give you a short account of the doings in the colony.

First of all, your old friend Mr Kipples is still alive and well, and
so are all our old companions in the school. One or two of the latter
have left, and young Naysmith has joined the Company's service. Betty
Peters comes very often to see us, and she always asks for you with
great earnestness. I think you have stolen the old woman's heart,
Charley, for she speaks of you with great affection. Old Mr Seaforth
is still as vigorous as ever, dashing about the settlement on a
high-mettled steed, just as if he were one of the youngest men in the
colony. He nearly poisoned himself, poor man, a month ago, by taking
a dose of some kind of medicine by mistake. I did not hear what it
was, but I am told that the treatment was rather severe. Fortunately
the doctor happened to be at home when he was sent for, else our old
friend would, I fear, have died. As it was, the doctor cured him with
great difficulty. He first gave him an emetic, then put mustard
blisters to the soles of his feet, and afterwards lifted him into one
of his own carts, without springs, in which he drove him for a long
time over all the ploughed fields in the neighbourhood. If this is
not an exaggerated account, Mr Seaforth is c