hat young men who
have brilliant prospects before them at home, will offer themselves upon
the altar of their country. I have some new patriotic stationery. There
is a picture of the flag on the envelope and underneath, "If any one
attempts to haul down the American flag shoot him on the spot.--
John A. Dix."

_Sunday, February_ 23.--Everybody came out to church this morning,
expecting to hear Madame Anna Bishop sing. She was not there, and an
"agent" made a "statement." The audience did not appear particularly
edified.

_March_ 4.--John B. Gough lectured in Bemis Hall last night and was
entertained by Governor Clark. I told Grandfather that I had an
invitation to the lecture and he asked me who from. I told him from Mr.
Noah T. Clarke's brother. He did not make the least objection and I was
awfully glad, because he has asked me to the whole course. Wendell
Phillips and Horace Greeley, E. H. Chapin and John G. Saxe and Bayard
Taylor are expected. John B. Gough's lecture was fine. He can make an
audience laugh as much by wagging his coat tails as some men can by
talking an hour.

_March_ 26.--I have been up at Laura Chapin's from 10 o'clock in the
morning until 10 at night, finishing Jennie Howell's bed quilt, as she
is to be married very soon. Almost all of the girls were there. We
finished it at 8 p. m. and when we took it off the frames we gave three
cheers. Some of the youth of the village came up to inspect our
handiwork and see us home. Before we went Julia Phelps sang and played
on the guitar and Captain Barry also sang and we all sang together, "O!
Columbia, the gem of the ocean, three cheers for the red, white and
blue."

_June_ 19.--Our cousin, Ann Eliza Field, was married to-day to George B.
Bates at her home on Gibson Street. We went and had an elegant time.
Charlie Wheeler made great fun and threw the final shower of rice as
they drove away.

_June._--There was great excitement in prayer meeting last night, it
seemed to Abbie Clark, Mary Field and me on the back seat where we
always sit. Several people have asked us why we sit away back there by
old Mrs. Kinney, but we tell them that she sits on the other side of the
stove from us and we like the seat, because we have occupied it so long.
I presume we would see less and hear more if we sat in front. To-night
just after Mr. Walter Hubbell had made one of his most beautiful prayers
and Mr. Cyrus Dixon was praying, a big June bug came zipping into the
r