as most likely to
contain the desired information. It ran as follows:--

"NEW YORK, _March 31, 1852_.

"DEAR GERTRUDE,--As there were plenty of Boston folks at the
wedding, you have heard before this of Mr. Graham's marriage. He
married the widow Holbrook, the same I wrote to you about. She was
determined to have him, and she's got him. I don't hesitate to say
he's got the worst of the bargain. He likes a quiet life, and he's
lost the chance of that--poor man!--for she's the greatest hand for
company that ever I saw. She followed Mr. Graham up pretty well at
Havanna, but I guess he thought better of it, and didn't mean to
have her. But when we got to New Orleans, she was there; and she
carried her point, and married him. Emily behaved beautifully; she
never said a word against it, and always treated the lady as
pleasantly as could be; but, dear me! how will our Emily get along
with so many folks about all the time, and so much noise and
confusion? For my part, I an't used to it, and it's not agreeable.
The new lady is civil enough to me, now she's married. I daresay
she thinks it stands her in hand, as long as she's one of the
family, and I've been in it so long. But I suppose you've been
wondering what had become of us, Gertrude, and will be surprised to
find we have got so far as New York, on our way home--_my_ way
home, for I'm the only one that talks of coming at present. I kept
meaning to write while we were in New Orleans, but there was so
much going on I didn't get the chance; and, after that horrid
steamboat from Charleston here, I wasn't good for anything for a
week. But Emily was so anxious that I couldn't put off writing any
longer. Poor Emily isn't very well; I don't mean that she's
downright sick--it's low spirits more than anything. She gets tired
and worried very quick, and easily disturbed, which didn't used to
be the case. It may be the new wife, and all the nieces and other
disagreeable things. She never complains, and nobody would know but
what she was pleased to have her father married again; but she
hasn't seemed happy all winter, and now it troubles me to see how
she looks sometimes. She talks a sight about you, and felt
dreadfully not to get any more letters. But to come to the
principal thing, they are all going to Europe-