have had a little snow-storm, and the leaves have fallen sadly.  We began to have a fire yesterday and to put on some of our winter clothing; yet roses bloom just outside our door, and mignonette, nasturtiums, and a variety of other flowers adorn every house.  The Swiss love for flowers is really beautiful.  I wish you would let the children go to the hot-house which they pass on the way from school and get me some flower-seeds, as it will be pleasant to me to have the means of giving pleasure.  I presume the gardener would be able to select a dozen or so of American varieties which would be a treasure here.  I amuse myself with making flower-pictures, with which to enliven our parlor, and assure you that these works of art are remarkable specimens of genius.  I do not know where the time goes, but I do not have half enough of it, or else do not understand the art of making the most of it.  We have just subscribed to a library at a franc a month, and hope to read a little French....  I suppose Z. will be a regular young lady by the time we come home, and that I shall be afraid of her, as I am of all young ladies.  How nicely she and M. would look in the jaunty little hats they all wear here.  I wonder if the fashion will stretch across the ocean?  I dare say it will.  Never was there anything so becoming in the world.

To Mrs. Stearns, Montreux, Nov. 21, 1858.

We were glad to hear from your last letter that you are all so well, and especially to hear such good accounts of Mr. Stearns.  It is a real comfort to us to find that his little trip has done him so much good.  I was sorry to hear of the loss of that friend of the Thurstons in the Austria, for I heard Ellen speak of her in the most rapturous manner.  This world is full of mysteries.  Only to think of the shock George received when expecting to meet Mr. Butler in Paris and perhaps spend several weeks with him there, he heard at Geneva the news of his sudden death! [2] He loved and honored Mr. B. most warmly and truly.  You will remember that the latter came abroad on account of the health of his daughter; her younger sister accompanied them, and they were all full of the brightest anticipations.  But the same steamer which brought them over, carried home his remains on the next trip, and those two poor young girls are left in a strange land, afflicted and disappointed and alone.  Mr. Butler died a most peaceful and happy death, and George was very glad to be in Paris in time to comfort the young ladies, who were perfectly delighted to see him.  He got back yesterday very much exhausted and has spent most of the day on the sofa.  A. has a teacher who comes three times a week from Vevay, and spends most of the day.  She is a young lady of about twenty-five, well educated and accustomed to teaching, and has taken hold of A. with no little energy.  She can not speak a word of English.  Tell your A. we can’t get over it that the horses, dogs and cats here all understand French.  I have been ever