To Mrs. Smith, Genevrier, July 25th.

I am only too glad of the chance your husband gives me to write you another bit of a note.  We are enjoying his visit amazingly.  There are only two drawbacks to its felicity; one is that he won’t stay all summer, and the other that you are not here.  The children were enchanted with the presents he brought them.  When I shall be on my feet and well and strong again time only can tell.  A. has devoted herself to me in the sweetest way.  What she has been to me all winter and up to this time, tongue could not tell.  My doctor is as kind as a brother.  He was a perfect stranger to me, and was brought to my bedside when I was writhing in agony; but in ten minutes his tenderness and sympathy made me forget that he was a stranger, and, through that long night of distress and the long day that followed, he did every thing that mortal could do to relieve and comfort me.  He brought his wife up to see me the other day, and I begged her to tell him how grateful I felt.  “He is kind,” she answered, “but then he loves you so!” (They both speak English.) I am so puffed up by his praises!  I am sure I thought I groaned, but he says “pas une gemissement.”

August 14th.—­Our two husbands have gone to Lausanne for the day, taking A. with them.  They seem to be having real nice times together, and if, as your husband says, “his old wife were here,” his felicity and ours would be too great.  They lounge about, talk, drink soda-water, and view the prospect.  Dr. Buck came up from Geneva on Thursday and spent the night and part of Friday with us, and it would have done you good to hear him and your husband laugh.  He was quite enchanted with the place, and says we never shall want to go home. August 23d.—­Your husband has given me leave to write you a little bit of a note out of my little bit of a heart on this little bit of paper.  He and A. have just gone off to get some pretty grass for you.  He will tell you when he gets home how he baptized his namesake on Sunday.  We have enjoyed his visit more than tongue can tell.  George says he has enjoyed it as much as he thought he should, and I am sure I have enjoyed it a great deal more, as I have been so much better in health than I expected.  But how you must miss him!

On the 12th of September—­a faultless autumn day—­she set out with her husband and eldest daughter for Chamouni.  It was her first excursion for pleasure since coming to Switzerland.  A visit to this great and marvelous handiwork of God is an event in the dullest life.  In her case the experience was so full of delight, that it seemed almost to compensate for the cares and disappointments of the whole previous year.  The plan was to return to Genevrier and then pass on to the Bernese Oberland, but the visit to Chamouni proved to be her last as well as her first pleasure excursion in Switzerland.

To Mrs. Stearns, Genevrier, October 2, 1859.