Know that you were open to congratulations. Why did you not confide in me? I've told Mr. Bebe's fortune here on Friday evening and we found that he was to marry you. I believe I am to be his second, so you had better not come near me or I may administer cold horizon. He wished me to tell you that his moonstone is getting on nicely. He has been trying to get up a party too go down and call upon you, but I do not think there are many who can go. It would be New Brunswick July 19th 1853 My dear Alice:- Perhaps when you discover that this letter was written on Sunday you will hesitate about reading it; New Brunswickers are never troubled with such complications, but with Staten Island people it may be different. You began your letter with a blessing.

remark about our "metropolis" or rather our weather, which was just, and words cannot describe the pain it caused me. However, I will try to forget and forgive. Have you heard the song "Forget, Forgive" but the same composer as "Some Day"? Eva is a little crazy over it, and I have to sing it to her frequently in order to keep her quiet. Latter day morning after leaving you we went down town, and I recreated in several songs. "Dancing Broadway Band", "The Black Eagle", "Small Welcome Butt Rumor" are all hate, but the first I am sure will give Mr. McArthur the frightener. You have heard for your account of the shooting. I must have had a very frightful night, and have been shaking that evening. My dear friend, I wish you could get married by the grace of God.

They are going by steamer to Old Point Comfort, and are very anxious that some of us should accompany them that far, but there is very little prospect of it. We have not seen "tennis" in the morning very much since you left. Our second match came off last Tuesday evening, but not then the prospect of being treated to cream by the other side could make us win, and we were beaten 6-1, 6-4. We have found some very pleasant acquaintances in the Baloomina. I was disappointed that you should have been here. The weather has been so bad for baseball. But with his health, Mr. Biddle wishes

When I visited the Island (not Blackwell's) you will see enough of me. We left home last Friday at noon, and after a most tedious journey, arrived here at noon the next day. The only amusement I had after leaving home was in watching theurchins dive off the wharf at New York. They did not trouble themselves to take off any clothes except fish out instance, when they did not take the trouble to put any on. Then I was interrupted in something the other side of the boat. But most of them jumped in just as they came from the streets, and Littleton, Mass. August 12th /85 My dear Alice:— To say that I was very glad to receive your letter would be putting it mildly; but you do go long about answering my epistle, that I fear it might have proved too much for your feeble constitution. Another idea that occurred to me was, that you might have eloped with one of those Cavalry officers I know that you were much impressed by them, and as you

are "scattered to the four winds." Etta Macaulay is at Martha's Vineyard, Charlie Ludlow at Ocean Beach. The Deshley boys were there for last Sunday also I believe; Harry Bebe is at Provincetown, the Hills, I suppose, are in New Brunswick though I do not know, and Doni and Jade in Mass. as you have penciled doubtless. We were not really in earnest when we spoke of making a descent upon you, for if I do not think we could get up a party much as we should enjoy it. We of these days, however,

rural districts. Aunt Lucy has promised to invite me there next winter for one of the "select parties" in the town-hall, which she says are very jolly. I had a long letter from Eva on Monday, in which she complained of not having heard from you. But hers was sent last Wednesday (5th), before she would have had time to receive yours. If you think Eva and I "inspired together" before writing you & do me dear April I did not see anything mysterious about myself I cannot speak for hers. You ask about the Baldwins. We have found them very pleasant, but just now if one of them objected to a bath, his companion would pick him up and drop him overboard. Really it was very amusing. You may wonder where Littleton is, and what sort of a place it is. Well, it is about thirty miles from Boston on the Fitchburg road, and did, last May, boast a population of nine hundred and ninety-four. But some of the inhabitants have since died, and as there has not been a corresponding number of births, I suppose they are further from a thousand than before. The scenery and the drive about the neighborhood are beautiful, but

never walk much while free. I range between the houses of my Emily and an aunt, and know comparatively few people beside my relatives. My days are passed in driving, reading, working, eating, playing with the children, and making myself generally agreeable (?) and last, but most emphatically not least, sleeping. There are four generations in this house; the oldest an old lady of ninety-one and the youngest a young lady of five months. As you may imagine there is nothing wildly exciting about this life, but I thoroughly enjoy it nevertheless. Next week, I believe there is to be a Sunday-school "picnic" and then my bliss will be complete. But of all things I should like to be here in the winter and attend a "Bobborough fall." Bobborough is a village about forty miles from us, and I was told last evening that at these falls, the gentlemen are in the habit of dancing in their stocking feet and sometimes in their shirt-sleeves. Imagine it wouldn't you like to see one? If you have seen the play "Joshua Whitcomb" you have seen a very good representation of the way in which such things are managed in these

like other people, they are not "in town". I knew Mr. Martin was coming to visit "Harry" as you irreverently call him but did not see either of them while he was in New Brunswick. Mr. H. Baldwin spent Sunday at Staten Island two or three weeks ago. Is not Mr. Martin a brother of your particular friend? We have been invited up to the Baldwins' two or three times, to play tennis and spend the evening and be like them all very much. I only wish they could be persuaded to spend the winter at our metropolis. You invited me to write

A longer letter "slept time" and tho' I did not intend to spin it out so, it has lengthened itself out without my realizing it. Be a good girl and write me soon, and suppose you by ten pages "slept time." I do not know how long I shall be here, but probably for two weeks at any rate. Do not become venturesome and get drowned driving off that dock. Charlie Ludlow said I wrote you again densely his regards and say he hoped he should see you in New Brunswick before long. It say be all of us. Most aff'ly yours, Elizabeth B.S.