living and striving for-your dear companionship, my precious daughters—there are none like unto you in your father's and mother's estimation. Truly, you are a strength and hope. Life's best blessings on you all!"

TO MISS THAYER.

After I left the cars

story
'pet lamb

Imagine the desolateness of the whole second and, upon entering the fold, to find my gone, was the drop too much. "I took comfort and then a broom, (which Julia immediately possessed herself of,) and we together lost no time in putting things in their places. Evening came, and we listened at every ring, until the telegraph announced the joyful tidings of 'All's well.' It said, too, the pillows were used. Ah, William, my dear, why should I not have my own way, when it is the best way? Am I not a mother and do I not know what is good for an obstreperous child?

"I cannot say that I was pleased to hear of the sitting at table that same night. It seemed to me that he needed my strong will at that moment. Certainly, I should have pressed him to persecution to lay him down to sleep,' and I beg of you not to spoil my child but rather encourage him to

persevere in all good ways. Give my love to him warm from the heart.

* Mr. Thayer had been ill at Mrs. Gibbons's house seven weeks.

TO LUCY.

"New-York, 7th mo. 25, 1860.

There is so much to mend in thy declining wardrobe, that it is quite impossible to get the trunk off before to-morrow. I am sure thy cousin Lue will not let thee suffer for want of a pockethandkerchief or a pin; therefore I feel comparative quiet as to thy getting on without it. I should suggest that, in thy movements, thee should consult thy Aunt Anna. When I was over twenty, I found the advice of older persons worth heeding."

TO SALLY.

"I am depending on thee for a deal of comfort and support under all trials; therefore, come home with a strong will to move in the right direction. The work planned, or planning, for the winter will keep us all busy; and, while I lament the necessity of living under a pot-and-kettle dispensation, as it seems to be the life just now allotted to us, I mean to make the best, and certainly the most of it."

TO W. S. THAYER.

"New-York, July, 22nd, 1861.

"My pet lamb,' doubly dear since thou hast strayed so far away, how long and anxiously we look for the glad tidings that thou art safely at thy post, improved in health, and in such spirits as thou art ever blessed with. Eagerly did we seize upon John's letter, and soon we spread the news of thy prosperous voyage to all who hold thee dear.

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"How we tried to look happy when thou left us, and how quietly and sadly we returned home, thinking that months must pass before we could hear thy voice, or look upon the like of thee again! Carter, God bless him! is kind and comes to us quite often, which is evidence that he misses thee. We dwell with delight on the never-ceasing honors showered on thee by the good and great, and say thee deserves them all. Fortunate man! wherever thou art found, friends cluster, and are ready to take thee to their hearts and home. Mayst thou find such all along thy pathway!"

CHAPTER XVIII.

1861.

WILLIE'S MEMOIR.

FROM LUTHER R. MARSH.

"New-York, Nov. 12th., 1861.

AM exceedingly obliged to you for the touching memorial of Willie, which you sent me;

and am glad, indeed, that a knowledge of him is thus embalmed in something more permanent than our vanishing memories.

"Why should we-why should you even,-regret the early transplanting from the trials, disappointments and temptations of our world, to the surety of another, of a character so pure, translucent, and guileless, as not to require the discipline which is necessary to most of our twisted natures?

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I should have been pleased to have known that such a memoir was in contemplation, and contributed my testimony to his sweetness of character, his inexorable integrity, his lofty aspirations, and his intellectual qualities, entitling him to the realization of his hopes.

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FROM MRS. ELIZA H. SCHUYLER.

"Dobbs Ferry, Nov. 19, 1861.

After writing thus far last night, I

was stopped in looking over the memorial, and sat

up to read it through. The loveliness and clear truthfulness of your dear son are given by these extracts so faithfully, that I am glad you have given to those who did not know him, the pleasure of thinking of him. He is-and is using those rare gifts in some other part of our Father's Home, for the good of those less pure and elevated. Who can understand his joy? Only you who loved him here, and knew best the sources of his happiness. It is a great possession to have one whom we understand in the spirit, in our future world. We turn our thoughts and heart there day by day. I know from my own dear friend, whom I follow. How much more when a part of ourselves is drawing us to itself!

FROM MRS. SEDGWICK.

"It has been delightful to have him brought so freshly again to my mind, just as I knew him, just as I have seen him, both here and in his own home. He was a noble, lovely, gifted youth; one of those who, having lived a short time fulfilled a long time.' He lived long enough to endow you all with heavenly riches, of which, nothing can deprive you to make you feel that the memory of such a son and brother, is more precious than the living existence of any one inferior to him. He lived long enough also to make himself felt by others, for their good, as comparatively few can do, even in the course of a long life. And so, perpetually mourning, you are perpetually comforted; in your saddest moments, you are not without