My notions of answering letters are according to the
literal sense of the word; not waiting six months and then scrawling a
lazy reply, but sitting down the moment you have read a letter, and
telling, as Dr. Woods says, "How the subject strikes you." I wish I
could be clear that the path of duty lay in talking to you this
afternoon, but as I find a loud call to consider the heels of George's
stockings, I must only write a word or two, and then resume my
darning-needle. You don't know how anxiously we all have watched for
some intelligence from Hartford. Not a day has passed when I have not
been the efficient agent in getting somebody to the post-office, and
every day my heart has sunk at the sound of "no letters." I felt a
tremor quite sufficient for a lover when I saw your handwriting once
more, so you see that in your old age you can excite quite as much
emotion as did the admirable Miss Byron in her adoring Sir Charles. I
hope the consideration and digestion of this fact will have its due
weight in encouraging you to proceed.
The fact of our having received said letter is as yet a state secret,
not to be made known till all our family circle "in full assembly
meet" at the tea-table. Then what an illumination! "How we shall be
edified and fructified," as that old Methodist said. It seems too bad
to keep it from mother and Aunt Esther a whole afternoon, but then I
have the comfort of thinking that we are consulting for their greatest
happiness "on the whole," which is metaphysical benevolence.
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