a soil early prepared for them, and that a young person
who is in the _habit_ of falsehood is not a Christian and needs to go
back to first principles. I can't endure subterfuges, misrepresentation,
and the like; the whole foundation looks wrong when people indulge
themselves in them, and to say to a Christian, "I hope you are
truthful," is to my mind as if I should say to him, "I hope you wash
your face and hands every day." Now if your observation says I am wrong,
let's know; I am open to conviction.

_To Mrs. H. B. Smith, New York, May 24, 1869._

It has just come to me that the true way to enjoy writing and to have
you enjoy hearing, is to keep a sort of journal, where little things
will have a chance to speak for themselves.

We are now in the midst of General Assembly. Mr. Stearns is here, and
we have sprinklings of ministers to dine and to tea at all sorts of odd
hours.... I can't help loving what is Christlike in people, whether I
like their natural characters or not; after all, what else is there in
the world worth much love? My Katy seems to be ploughing her way with
more or less success, and making friends and foes. You, who helped
me fashion her, would be interested in the letters I get from wives,
showing that the want of demonstration in men is a wide-spread evil,
under which women do groan being burdened. _Entre nous_, Mrs. Dr. ---- is
one, and I got a letter to-day from Michigan to the same effect. We are
having delightful weather for the meetings. Yesterday morning Dr. John
Hall preached in our church, and it was crammed full to Overflowing....
Lew. S. [3] has decided to study theology. We are all glad. He and I
have got quite acquainted of late and talk most learnedly together. Did
I tell you I have translated a German dramatic poem in five acts? Miss
Anna Nevins says I have done it extremely well. I don't know about that,
but my whole soul got into it somehow, and I did not know whether I
was in the body or out of it for two or three weeks. I wish I could do
things decently and in order. There is to be a great party at Apollo
Hall this evening for both Assemblies. I am going and expect to get
tired to death.

_26th_--It was a brilliant scene at Apollo Hall. Everybody was there,
and the hall was finely adapted to the purpose of accommodating the
2,000 people present. The speeches were very poor. I went to the
prayer-meeting this morning. The church was full, galleries and all, and
the spirit was ex