of fun for
us. We initiated Mr. Gillette into the Dorcas Society, which consists in
seating the candidate in a chair and propounding some very solemn
questions and then in token of desire to join the society, you ask him
to open his mouth very wide for a piece of cake which you swallow,
yourself, instead! Very disappointing to the new member!

We went to a concert at the Seminary this evening. Miss Mollie Bull sang
"Coming Through the Rye" and Miss Lizzie Bull sang "Annie Laurie" and
"Auld Lang Syne." Jennie Lind, herself, could not have done better.

_December_ 15.--Alice Jewett, Emma Wheeler and Anna are in Mrs.
Worthington's Sunday School class and as they have recently united with
the church, she thought they should begin practical Christian work by
distributing tracts among the neglected classes. So this afternoon they
ran away from school to begin the good work. It was so bright and
pleasant, they thought a walk to the lake would be enjoyable and they
could find a welcome in some humble home. The girls wanted Anna to be
the leader, but she would only promise that if something pious came into
her mind, she would say it. They knocked at a door and were met by a
smiling mother of twelve children and asked to come in. They sat down
feeling somewhat embarrassed, but spying a photograph album on the
table, they became much interested, while the children explained the
pictures. Finally Anna felt that it was time to do something, so when no
one was looking, she slipped under one of the books on the table, three
tracts entitled "Consolation for the Bereaved," "Systematic Benevolence"
and "The Social Evils of dancing, card playing and theater-going." Then
they said goodbye to their new friends and started on. They decided not
to do any more pastoral work until another day, but enjoyed the outing
very much.

_Christmas._--We all went to Aunt Mary Carr's to dinner excepting
Grandmother, and in the evening we went to see some tableaux at Dr.
Cook's and Dr. Chapin's at the asylum. We were very much pleased with
the entertainment. Between the acts Mr. del Pratt, one of the patients,
said every time, "What next!" which made every one laugh.

Grandfather was requested to add his picture to the gallery of portraits
of eminent men for the Court Room, so he has had it painted. An artist
by the name of Green, who lives in town, has finished it after numerous
sittings and brought it up for our approval. We like it but we do not
thi