MY DEAR FRIEND,--Many thanks for your kind letter of Mar. 29th,
though I never saw the "P. S."--which, as usual with all
postscripts, contained the best part of the letter--till a month
afterwards, when in house-cleaning I was assorting letters
received, I noticed the last page of your letter, which was like
receiving a new letter, and came in very opportune; for we have
had so much to depress us of late, that I was glad to have my
attention called to Philippians, which contains so much that is
cheering. There has been a good deal to occupy my time and thoughts
since your very kind letter reached me; but I will not allow your
college term to close without sending you my kind word, though I
cannot be personally present at the Ohio Conference and Meadville
exercises. May you have charming weather, and a satisfactory
gathering, is my sincere wish. Rev. William H. Channing's visit
here was highly appreciated by his old friends and the early
members of the church, and we all particularly enjoyed the
Communion. It was truly a communion with the departed, and very
beautiful to us. I did not have the pleasure of meeting Mr.
Channing excepting a few moments at Mrs. Ryland's, which I
regretted exceedingly; but it was a disappointment I could not
alter.
---- and wife moved to Mt. Auburn to-day, there to make a bright,
beautiful home for themselves, which is as it should be; but we who
are left at home feel rather sad. The last of my dear mother's five
little children has gone from me, and it is not so easy to enter
into their homes and have my brothers and sisters what they were to
me in our own family circle. Still all is right and best as it is;
and though clouds gather over our heads, the sunshine will at
length make itself seen, for "all things work together for good." I
am going to be gay and spend the summer with ---- in Philadelphia;
and as we have not met for eight years, we shall enjoy a quiet
summer together.
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