_Nov. 12._ As usual I managed to miss the last mail. Now that the W.'s
and their party have returned, perhaps we may be assisted into greater
punctuality. Fortunately for us they live farther from the human race
by two and a half miles than ourselves, and can't reach it without
passing within half a mile of our house. Politeness usually obliges
them to come up and take our budget. We live on our friends in a great
many ways here. Without attempting any system or intending to set a
wrong world right, we realize all the best fruits of socialistic
communities. If any one has anything good, he is expected to enjoy
only a small piece himself; and most things that are done have a
reference to our united, not to any individual interest. Our own
geographical location is such that we are peculiarly fitted to receive
the benefit of this interchange of good offices,--while we can hardly
reciprocate as we ought to.