grandmother is bitter about it。 She says there never was a country
yet where the population was made up of 〃ladies〃 and 〃gentlemen；〃 and
she does n't believe there can be； nor that putting a spread eagle on
a copper makes a gold dollar of it。 She is a pessimist after her own
fashion。 She thinks all sentiment is dying out of our people。 No
loyalty for the sovereign； the king…post of the political edifice；
she says； no deep attachment between employer and employed； no
reverence of the humbler members of a household for its heads； and to
make sure of continued corruption and misery； what she calls
〃universal suffrage〃 emptying all the sewers into the great aqueduct
we all must drink from。 〃Universal suffrage！〃 I suppose we women
don't belong to the universe！ Wait until we get a chance at the
ballot…box； I tell grandma； and see if we don't wash out the sewers
before they reach the aqueduct！ But my pen has run away with men I
was thinking of Paolo； and what a pleasant thing it is to have one of
those child…like； warm…hearted； attachable； cheerful； contented；
humble； faithful； companionable； but never presuming grownup children
of the South waiting on one； as if everything he could do for one was
a pleasure； and carrying a look of content in his face which makes
every one who meets him happier for a glimpse of his features。
It does seem a shame that the charming relation of master and
servant； intelligent authority and cheerful obedience； mutual
interest in each other's welfare； thankful recognition of all the
advantages which belong to domestic service in the better class of
families； should be almost wholly confined to aliens and their
immediate descendants。 Why should Hannah think herself so much
better than Bridget？ When they meet at the polls together； as they
will before long； they will begin to feel more of an equality than is
recognized at present。 The native female turns her nose up at the
idea of 〃living out；〃 does she think herself so much superior to the
women of other nationalities？ Our women will have to come to it；so
grandmother says；in another generation or two； and in a hundred
years； according to her prophecy； there will be a new set of old
〃Miss Pollys〃 and 〃 Miss Betseys〃 who have lived half a century in
the same families； respectful and respected； cherished； cared for in
time of need （citizens as well as servants； holding a ballot as well
as a broom； I tell her）； and bringing back to us the lowly； underfoot
virtues of contentment and humility； which we do so need to carpet
the barren and hungry thoroughfare of our unstratified existence。
There； I have got a…going； and am forgetting all the news I have to
tell you。 There is an engagement you will want to know all about。
It came to pass through our famous boat…race； which you and I
remember； and shall never forget as long as we live。 It seems that
the young fellow who pulled the bow oar of that men's college boat
which we had the pleasure of beating got some glimpses of Georgina；
our handsome stroke oar。 I believe he took it into his head that it
was she who threw the bouquet that won the race for us。 He was； as
you know； greatly mistaken； and ought to have made love to me； only
he did n't。 Well； it seems he came posting down to the Institute
just before the vacation was over； and there got a sight of Georgina。
I wonder whether she told him she didn't fling the bouquet！ Anyhow；
the acquaintance began in that way； and now it seems that this young
fellow； good…looking and a bright scholar； but with a good many
months more to pass in college； is her captive。 It was too bad。
Just think of my bouquet's going to another girl's credit！ No
matter； the old Atalanta story was paid off； at any rate。
You want to know all about dear Dr。 Butts。 They say he has just been
offered a Professorship in one of the great medical colleges。 I
asked him about it； and he did not say that he had or had not。
〃But；〃 said be； 〃suppose that I had been offered such a place； do you
think I ought to accept it and leave Arrowhead Village？ Let us talk
it over；〃 said he； 〃just as if I had had such an offer。〃 I told him
he ought to stay。 There are plenty of men that can get into a
Professor's chair； I said； and talk like Solomons to a class of
wondering pupils： but once get a really good doctor in a place； a man
who knows all about everybody； whether they have this or that
tendency； whether when they are sick they have a way of dying or a
way of getting well； what medicines agree with them and what drugs
they cannot take； whether they are of the sort that think nothing is
the matter with them until they are dead as smoked herring； or of the
sort that send for the minister if they get a stomach…ache from
eating too many cucumbers；who knows all about all the people within
half a dozen miles （all the sensible ones； that is； who employ a
regular practitioner）；such a man as that； I say； is not to be
replaced like a missing piece out of a Springfield musket or a
Waltham watch。 Don't go！ said I。 Stay here and save our precious
lives； if you can； or at least put us through in the proper way； so
that we needn't be ashamed of ourselves for dying； if we must die。
Well； Dr。 Butts is not going to leave us。 I hope you will have no
unwelcome occasion for his services；you are never ill； you know；
but； anyhow； he is going to be here； and no matter what happens he
will be on hand。
The village news is not of a very exciting character。 Item 1。 A new
house is put up over the ashes of the one in which your husband lived
while he was here。 It was planned by one of the autochthonous
inhabitants with the most ingenious combination of inconveniences
that the natural man could educe from his original perversity of
intellect。 To get at any one room you must pass through every other。
It is blind； or nearly so； on the only side which has a good
prospect； and commands a fine view of the barn and pigsty through
numerous windows。 Item 2。 We have a small fire…engine near the new
house which can be worked by a man or two； and would be equal to the
emergency of putting out a bunch of fire…crackers。 Item 3。 We have
a new ladder； in a bog； close to the new fire…engine； so if the new
house catches fire； like its predecessor； and there should happen to；
be a sick man on an upper floor； he can be got out without running
the risk of going up and down a burning staircase。 What a blessed
thing it was that there was no fire…engine near by and no ladder at
hand on the day of the great rescue！ If there had been； what a
change in your programme of life！ You remember that 〃cup of tea
spilt on Mrs。 Masham's apron；〃 which we used to read of in one of
Everett's Orations； and all its wide…reaching consequences in the
affairs of Europe。 I hunted up that cup of tea as diligently as ever
a Boston matron sought for the last leaves in her old caddy after the
tea…chests had been flung overboard at Griffin's wharf；but no
matter about that； now。 That is the way things come about in this
world。 I must write a lecture on lucky mishaps； or； more elegantly；
fortunate calamities。 It will be just the converse of that odd essay
of Swift's we read together； the awkward and stupid things done with
the best intentions。 Perhaps I shall deliver the lecture in your
city： you will come and hear it； and bring him； won't
you； dearest？
Always； your loving
LURIDA。
MISS LURIDA VINCENT TO MRS。 EUTHYMIA KIRKWOOD。
It seems forever since you left us； dearest Euthymia！ And are you；
and is your husband； and Paolo；good Paolo；are you all as well and
happy as you have been and as you ought to be？ I suppose our small
village seems a very quiet sort of place to pass the winter in； now
that you have become accustomed to the noise and gayety of a great
city。 For all that； it is a pretty busy place this winter； I can
tell you。 We have sleighing parties；I never go to them； myself；
because I can't keep warm； and my mind freezes up when my blood cools
down below 95 or 96 deg。 Fahrenheit。 I had a great deal rather sit
by a good fire and read about Arctic discoveries。 But I like very
well to hear the bells' jingling and to see the young people trying
to have a good time as hard as they do at a picnic。 It may be that
they do； but to me a picnic is purgatory and a sleigh…ride that other
place； where； as my favorite Milton says； 〃frost performs the effect
of fire。〃 I believe I have quoted him correctly； I ought to； for I
could repeat half his poems from memory once； if I cannot now。
You must have plenty of excitement in your city life。 I suppose you
recognized yourself in one of the society columns of the 〃Household
Inquisitor：〃 〃Mrs。 E。 K。； very beautiful； in an elegant；〃 etc。； etc；
〃with pearls；〃 etc。； etc。；as if you were not the ornament of all
that you wear； no matter what it is！
I am so glad that you have married a scholar！ Why should not
Mauriceyou both tell me to call him sotake the diplomatic office
which has been offered him？ It seems to me that he would find
himself in exactly the right place。 He can talk in two or three
languages； has good manners； and a wife whowell； what shall I say
of Mrs。 Kirkwood but that 〃she would be good company for a queen；〃 as
our old friend the quondam landlady of the Anchor Tavern used to say？
I should so like to see you presented at Court！ It seems to me that
I should be willing to hold your train for the sake of seeing you in
your court feathers and things。
As for myself； I have been thinking of late that I would become
either a professional lecturer or head mistress of a great school or
college for girls。 I have tried the first business a little。 Last
month I delivered a lecture on Quaternions。 I got three for my
audience； two came over from the Institute； and one from that men's
college which they try to make out to b