eary limbs, saw off its
withered branches, and deluge its old roots! They spend days belting
and tarring its waist, trying to destroy the perverse caterpillars; but
with all this they can never give it back its fresh and green youth. It
goes on patiently year after year putting forth its leaves in spring
and coquetting in its summer garb with its younger rivals. In autumn
the pretty colored leaves fly away, and it remains bare and grim under
its coating of snow and ice. Some day it will blow down, and nothing
but the monumental stone will be left on which future generations will
read, "Under this tree George Washington first took command of the
American Army, July 3, 1775."

If I stay in Cambridge long enough I shall become a beacon of wisdom.
Every one is so learned. If I happen to meet a lady in the street she
will begin to talk of the "old masters" as if it were as natural a
subject of conversation as the weather.

Washington, _March 23, 1880_.

Johan has this moment received the news that he is transferred to Rome.
We feel dreadfully sad to leave Washington and all our dear friends.
Our good Schloezer would say "_Que faire? La diplomatie a des exigences
qu'il ne faut pas negliger_."

The Queen of Denmark writes, "I hope that you are sure that I never
omit to name your husband when a change is coming on in diplomacy, and
I hope soon to see something advance to fulfil my wish. Alas, no great
benefit to me personally, as you will not live in Copenhagen, but you
would come here in an easier way, and you would be in Europe. Farewell,
dear Lilly, farewell, and think of me as I of you. Yours.... Louise.
The King's best compliments."

From this I fancy it was the gracious Queen whose finger pointed to the
post Rome. This will be the last letter you will get from me from this
side of the Atlantic, as I am going to be very busy--as busy as the bee
I only hope that people will let the busy B.

ROME, 1880-1890

ROME, PALAZZO ROSPIGLIOSI, _December, 1880_.

Dear Mother,--We are now almost settled in the Eternal City, after a
process which has seemed to me as eternal as the city itself, and I am
so far established as to be able to take up the threads of my new life.
The first of these will be this letter to you.

We found an apartment in this palace which is large and comfortable. It
looks onto the Piazza Quirinal on one side, and on the other into the
courtyard, where we see the procession of tourists wi