ners, &c. You will be perfectly delighted with him.
He is no longer a country dog, but is becoming a real city bred
gentlemanly dog. The fond companion of Miss Annie Blow in her rambles
around the well, cistern, and even out into the alley. And never comes
into the dining room, kitchen, or your grandma's room, without being
pressingly invited. Having upon his first arrival received divers
striking hints, his intellect has become very sharp, and his sense of
propriety very much quickened in regard to all these matters." Towards
the close of January instead of the usual reception of letters every
few days, we experienced the far greater happiness of seeing him, which
was only marred by the stern necessity of his having to leave us again.
In May he returned, bringing my sister with him, to remain until after
"the examination" of Madame De Fellon's school. In the meanwhile we
made up our mind to pay another visit to Pascagoula, from whence I see
he wrote to our daughter as follows:

Pascagoula, May 18, 1847.

"Dear Daughter: We avail ourselves of the return of Dr. F. to
send you a few lines to let you know how we are getting on in these
diggings. We arrived safely last Friday evening, and found Mrs. F. and
O. pleased to see us. The General is over on "Round Island," whither
we attempted, this morning, to go, but were driven back by the head
winds. Your mother and aunt were wet by the spray but have experienced
no inconvenience from it. They are both well. We missed you very much
this morning when the fish were biting almost as fast as we could bate
our lines and throw them into the water. Your mother caught nearly two
dozen cats before breakfast. But you need not come as there are no
redfish or sheepshead, or trout, nothing to be caught but cats and
croakers, and I know you are too fastidious in your piscal taste to
delight in such sport. We would have been much pleased to have had
dear daughter with us. But hope that you have improved the time, so
that when the examination comes off we shall be delighted with the
proficiency you have made in your studies. 'Mother' and 'aunt' send
their love to you. Ever your devoted, FATHER."

After the examination, in June, we returned to St. Louis. The
encouragement we felt from the effect of the last winter upon my
health, induced us to try another winter's sojourn in the South, with
the hope that a permanent restoration would be the result. Consequently
in December