scape, among them Dr. Clarence Fripp, of whom they
all speak with great affection. He never wanted to go, but was carried
off by his brothers, one of whom, Eddings, has since died.

_Oct. 15._ As soon after breakfast as Robert had finished his regular
work we mounted two pair of stairs "to clear up the attic." Do you
think you know what that means? You have not the least idea. So far as
we can make out, this house was built in 1809, and I think Robert
dragged out from under the eaves the original shavings. It was
melancholy to see the spoiled and demolished furniture which would be
of so much use to us now, bureaus without drawers, sofas with only the
frames, and those all broken, pieces of washstands and bedsteads,
etc.

It seems that such wonders were afterwards performed in
renovating this broken furniture that the parlor became
almost a parody of its ancient splendor.

The letters now return to chronological order.

FROM H. W.

_July 18._ The cotton-fields are quite full of yellow and pink
blossoms. We rode through many cotton-fields, and a pretty sight they
were, some good, some poor,--those belonging to the Government as a
general thing showing marked inferiority to those of the "Concern."

C. has been in the field all day, and has come home with a strong
feeling of how much the people in general have gained and improved in
the last year. There are poor ones among them, of course,--some he
says he should like to send off the place, another year; but the
majority of the people are very much ashamed of them, and for some
time have been very anxious he should go over the fields to see who
"work for deir money and who shirk." To-night he has been distributing
the pork and molasses and has refused the bonus to those who have not
done their work properly, preferring to make the distinction here
rather than in the pay, and most of the delinquents have appreciated
the justice of the proceeding, only one or two making any fuss at all,
and the others were very much ashamed of them. C. says he thinks that
school has improved the children, too, their manners are improved, as
have the grown people's,--less cringing and subservient, but more
respectful and manly. Tim does not pull his forelock at every word he
speaks, as he did last year, looking like a whipped dog, but looks you
full in the face and speaks out as if he were not ashamed of himself,
and is perfectly respectful withal.

The names of the