I am most thankful that we had that last visit from dear Mrs. Prentiss.  It was a rare favor to us that she came.  Her health was very delicate, and a slight deviation from the regular routine of home life was apt to give her sleepless nights.  Dr. P. had sent us word that he was going to be in New Haven, and would give us a call before returning to New York.  We’ were overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him, and wrote immediately begging Mrs. Prentiss to come with him.  She, ever ready to sacrifice her own ease for the sake of giving pleasure to others, and knowing that the 15th of May would be my 70th anniversary, and that I perfectly longed to see her, took the risk of personal suffering upon herself to satisfy my earnest desire, and came.  They arrived on the 13th in the late afternoon train.  She was so bright and cheerful it was difficult to notice any traces of the weariness which she must have felt.

We passed a delightful evening, and as Dr. P. was to spend a part of the next day in New Haven, we formed a plan for Mrs. Prentiss and me to go to Norwich at the same time and make a brief visit to our mutual friends, the Misses Gilman.  Mr. Washburn telegraphed to them that we were coming.  On arriving at New London we found, to our dismay, that we had been misinformed in regard to the trains, and that the one we had taken did not connect with the one to Norwich, which had been gone two hours.  So there we were, left alone on the platform, strangers in the place, with no means of either going on or returning.  What should we do?  Our first thought was to procure, if possible, some conveyance to take us to Norwich and back; but this we found could not be done, for want of time, the distance between the two cities being fourteen miles or more.  Fortunately for us, a young lad appeared, who promised to take us to our friends in Norwich, allow us half an hour to spend with them, and drive to the station there in time for the return train to New London and East River.  He looked so honest and true that we felt we could trust him, and we acceded to his terms at once.  As soon as he could get his carriage ready we started off on our untried way.

It began at the foot of a long hill, and continued up and down over a succession of the same kind, with very rare exceptions of a level space between them, through the whole distance.  But the scenery was so varied and beautiful, we thought if our only object in setting out had been a drive, we could not have chosen one more charming.  The weather was fine, and dear Mrs. Prentiss in her happiest mood.  As for me, nothing marred my enjoyment but fear that the fatigue would be too much for her, and an undercurrent of anxiety lest by some mishap we should fail to re-arrive at the home-station in time to meet our husbands who would be waiting for us.  But if she had any such misgivings nothing in word or manner betrayed it.  So entire was her self-control, and so delicate her tact, not to throw the faintest shadow across the wisdom of my precipitate arrangements.  She was as happy as a bird all the way, and talked delightfully.