[186]
What a beautiful place it is!
There is everything here that there is at Brunswick except the sea,--a great exception.
Yesterday I was out all the forenoon sketching elms.
There is no end to the beauty of these trees.
I shall fill my book with them before I get through.
We had a levee at Professor Park's last week,--quite a brilliant affair.
To-day there is to be a fishing party to go to Salem beach and have a chowder.
It seems almost too good to be true that we are going to have such a house in such a beautiful place, and to live here among all these agreeable people, where everybody seems to love you so much and to think so much of you. I am almost afraid to accept it, and should not, did I not see the Hand that gives it all and know that it is both firm and true.
He knows if it is best for us, and His blessing addeth no sorrow therewith.
I cannot describe to you the constant undercurrent of love and joy and peace ever flowing through my soul.
I am so happy — so blessed!
The literary work of this summer was directed toward preparing articles on many subjects for the New York independent and the
National era, as well as collecting material for future books.
That the “Pearl of
Orr's Island,” which afterward appeared as a serial in the “Independent,” was already contemplated, is shown by a letter written July 29th, in which
Mrs. Stowe says:
What a lovely place Andover is!
So many beautiful walks!
Last evening a number of us climbed Prospect Hill, and had a most charming walk.
Since I came here we have taken up hymn-singing to quite an extent, and while we were all up on the hill we sang “ When I can read my title clear.”
It went finely.
