I worried up to 32nd St. and found I had to wait an hour and a half for the Express train. So when the accommodation came along I took that. Waited over half an hour in New Haven for the boat; which not arriving, we were sent on by an accommodation train.

The time keeps being cut up by short snow squalls here, and every day seems to be the last of the sleighing, and then the bare spots are covered again. I have taken Fanny, Mary, Bertha in the cutter and had a short ride with Mrs. Robinson, Sarah, and Emily in the big sleigh yesterday, landing them at Mrs. Perkins’, where I spent the p.m. reading Macaulay to them, and am asked to do the same at Mrs. Robinson’s this p.m.

I spent the evening reading and discussing Modern Painters with [324]Miss Stevens who is much interested in it—alternating it with Noctes Ambrosianae. Fred K. left the morning I reached here. Jim Beecher is here and I see him. He goes to New York next Monday to sail in the (that same) “Samuel H . Russell”.

Mother is in Northampton and is trying to draw all the world after her. Father received yesterday from her a letter urging and begging him to go about preaching water cure to Mrs. Robinson, Pomeroy, Tainter, Gill, and I don’t know how many more—whom she is convinced stand greatly in need of the cure. Also a lot more who have female children between 14 & 15 years of age are urged by every consideration of duty to posterity to bundle and walk—to the Hall of Vigor and Regularity. Bertha & Mary Robinson it is thought will be baptized adults. Father is converted, I think, and will have a serious talk with Mr. Robinson. Mrs. Robinson is anxious—and will let her husband decide. Mrs. Perkins is also getting the Missionary Spirit.

To fill out the page: George Olmsted has failed; the Irishman that whipped his children is dead and denied a Christian burial. Miss Imlay is dead. Mother has taken a decent little girl to bring up.

Monday morning. The “American Hall” was burnt Sunday morning (4 o’clock). The lower story was not injured much, but pretty much all above was consumed. Walls standing. Cardelli the artist suffered most. His paintings and his grand piano were burnt.

Jim Beecher goes this evening. That is, if his friends do not persuade him not to. I was just now at Mrs. Perkins’ where there were three of them at him—hard. I could not get any last weekly papers to send by him. They are all sold out or burnt up at the news offices. If you can, give him one before he goes and a paper with the last steamer’s news.

I read Macaulay every P .M. with or to the Robinsons and Perkins’, and call every morning to see whether I shall. The conclusion is that Emily is the most lovely and loveable girl. Oh, she is. Well, I really think she has the most incomparably fine face I ever saw. And she is a real tender sensible downright good woman.

The Modern Painters improves on acquaintance and Miss Stevens forms an amalgam with it in my heart. She is just the thing to read it or have it read to one by. She is very sensitive to beauty—thoughtful, penetrating, enthusiastic. There is a capital review (very flattering) of it in North British Review (Feb.) 1847 which is worth your reading—as it gives the cream of the book. I am very anxious to get the second volume.

Roderick Terry, senior, is dead.

There is a great snowstorm coming now—just in time again—for the sleighing stopped yesterday.

Mother is writing communications for the Courant on Hydropathy. Aunty & I send love to Julia & you, and suppose she knows “Julia Lafaette” is about to be married to a southron—lawyer.

[325]

Bertha has stopped going to school.

If you have an opportunity, borrow the 2nd vol. Modern Painters of Mr. Hoppin and send us.

Miss Stevens had been admiring the clouds with ’Livy Day: the other morning. She (Miss S.) said, “I have been reading the—.”

(Livy,) “Modern Painters. I thought so. So have I.”