Ireland, Germany, and Switzerland, about my books, till I have got sick and tired of them.  And the reason I tired of them was, that in most cases there was no discrimination.  People liked their religious character, and of course I wanted them to do so.  But you appreciate and understand everything in Greylock, and have, therefore, gratified my husband and myself.  Not a soul out of this house, for instance, has ever so much as alluded to my little Eric, except one friend who said, “We thought that part of the book forced, and supposed A. wrote it.”  Nobody has ever alluded to Margaret, save yourself.  I hoped a sequel to the book might be called for, when I meant to elaborate her character.  Still, it would have been very hard....  I am not sorry that I chose the path in life I did choose.  A woman should not live for, or even desire, fame.  This is yet more true of a Christian woman.  If I had not steadily suppressed all such ambition, I might have become a sour, disappointed woman, seeing my best work unrecognised.  But it has been my wish to

  “Dare to be little and unknown,
  Seen and loved by God alone.”

Your letter for a few hours, did stir up what I had always trampled down; but only for that brief period, and then I said to myself, God has only taken me at my word; I have asked Him, a thousand times, to make me smaller and smaller, and crowd the self out of me by taking up all the room Himself.  There is so much of that work yet to be done, that I wonder He ventures to make so many lines fall to me in pleasant places, and that I have such a goodly heritage.  I trust He will bless you for your labor of love to me.

I do not like the idea of your buying my books.  Greylock being for mothers, I never dreamed of men reading it.  Have you had The Story Lizzie Told, Six Little Princesses, The Little Preacher, and Nidworth?  Neither of these is really a child’s book, and the next time you are sick, if you have not read them, I shall love to send them to you.  If this is conceit, I have the effrontery not to be a mite ashamed of it!

The following notes to Mrs. Fisher show how pleasantly she sympathised with her teacher as a young mother, while taking lessons of and admiring her as an artist: 

NEW YORK, February 4, 1878.

What a relief to have the days come long again!  On Saturday I found in A.’s portfolio a study you lent her; exquisite ferns behind the fallen trunk of a tree, and a tiny group of orange-colored toad-stools.  I will send it with its two lovely sisters, when I get through with them.  I wish you could get time to come to see me, or that I could get time to go to see you.  But it is my unlucky nature to have a great many irons in the fire at once.  I am glad your baby keeps well, and hope he will grow up to be a great comfort to you.

Feb. 23d.—­I have just received your letter.  I have my hands full and there is no need to hurry you.