Then there never was such a salad as we had for our fourth of July dinner. And I did have a little real oil, too good for any hawked about stuff. I put it right on to those dear little onions, and that happy looking lettuce! And that isn't all about that, for there are still carrots--gentle and sweet--for our tomorrow's lunch. I told "Jim" they were good for the disposition and he said he didn't need carrots for his! Men are awfully conceited. And I am so pleased to see Mr. Goddard a'walking right off, without a limp to his name. James and Miss Miller send love, and so do I, while the beautiful hill holds you and always. MARY LARCOM DOW. Monday, July 7, 1919. Mrs. Dow wrote to a California friend, Mrs. Gertrude Payne Bridgeford, a short time before her death: "I'd give my chance of a satin gown to see you, and I hope I shall live to do that, but if I don't, remember that I love you always, here or there, and I quote here my favorite verse from Weir Mitchell, 'Yes, I have had dear Lord, the day, When, at thy call, I have the night, Brief be the twilight as I pass From light to dark, from dark to light.'" Her prayer was answered for the twilight was brief. Dear Elsie: As soon as Mary said "E. Sill"--I found the Fool's Prayer directly. It was in my mind and would not stay out. How well it expresses that our sins are often not so bad as our blunders! A splendid prayer for an untactful person. Perhaps I should not go so far as to say that want of tact is as bad as want of virtue--but it is pretty bad! From that defect, you will go scot free! But I often blunder. Your TAT is here, I am keeping it as a hostage. Thine, YOUR OLD SCHOOLMA'AM. Friday, April 9, 1920. EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS "Wouldn't it be lovely if one could fall--like a leaf from a tree?" "Longevity is the hardest disease in the world to cure, you are beat from the start, and get worse daily!" "Ah, dear, sometimes I wish--almost wish--I did not love life so well! But I try to think that if it is not a long dreamless sleep bye and bye, that I shall take right hold of that other existence and love it too!" And speaking of Mr. Dow's serious illness she wrote: "I try to believe that God will not take him first--and leave me with no sun in the sky--nor bird in the bush--no flower in the grass." APPRECIATION BY SARAH E. MILLER It was in the autumn of 1872 that I first met my friend, Mary Larcom Ober, at Wilmington, North Carolina, where we were teaching in the same school. In the spring of 1873, she invited me to her home in Beverly Farms. How well I remember that first happy visit to beautiful Beverly Farms, and the first walk in its woods. We went through the grounds of the Haven estate and then to Dalton's hill which has such a fine outlook. From that time my friend's home held a welcome for me whenever I chose to come, and the welcome lasted till the close of her life.