Aug. 27th.—­Papa got home Tuesday night.  Johnny Schaff’s death was from a fall; he left the house full of life and health, and in a few minutes was brought in insensible, and only lived half an hour....  I take no pleasure in writing you, because we feel that you are not likely to get my letters.  Still, I can not make up my mind to stop writing.  Never was a busier set of people than we.  In the evening I read to the children from the German books you sent them; am now on Thelka Von Grumpert’s, which is a really nice book.  I tell papa we are making an idol out of this place, but he says we are not.

Tuesday.—­We all set out to climb the mountain near Deacon Kellogg’s.  We snatched what we could for our dinner, and when we were ready to eat it, it proved to be eggs, bread and meat, cake, guava jelly, cider and water.  We enjoyed the splendid view and the dinner, and then papa and the boys went home, and M., Nep and myself proceeded to climb higher, Nep so affectionate that he tired me out hugging me with his “arms,” as H. calls them, and nearly eating me up, while M. was shaking with laughter at his silly ways.  We were gone from 10 A.M. to nearly 6 P.M., and brought home in baskets, bags, pockets and bosom, about thirty natural brackets, some very large and fearfully heavy.  One was so heavy that I brought it home by kicking it down the mountain.  I have just got some flower seeds for fall planting, and the children are looking them over as some would gems from the mine.

Thursday, September 1st.—­Your letter has come, and we judge that you have quite given up Paris; what a pity to have to do it!  We spent yesterday at Hager brook with Mrs. Humphrey and her daughters; papa drove us over in the straw wagon and came for us about 6 P.M.  We had lobster salad and marmalade, bread and butter and cake, and we roasted potatoes and corn, and the H.’s had a pie and things of that sort.  When they saw the salad they set up such shouts of joy that papa came to see what was the matter.  We had a nice time.  Today I have had proofs to correct and letters to write, and berries to dry, but not a minute to sit down and think, everybody needing me at once.  All are busy as bees and send lots of love.  Give ever so much to the Smiths.

September 8th.—­Here we are all sitting round the parlor table.  The last three days have each brought a letter from you, and to-day one came from Mrs. S. to me, and one from Prof.  S. to papa.  I have no doubt that the decision for you to return is a wise one and hope you will fall in with it cheerfully.  Dr. Schaff is here, and yesterday papa took him to Hager brook, and to-day to the quarries; splendid weather for both excursions, and Dr. S. seems to have enjoyed them extremely.  Last evening he read to us some private letters of Bismarck, which were very interesting and did him great credit in every way.  I had a long call from M. H. to-day; she looked as sweet as