The newspapers have both come to hand & been gladly welcomed. I shall realize you on the 26th sending living impulses into those young men, with results not to cease--their kindled hearts sending back response through glowing eyes that will be warmer to you than the June sunshine. Perhaps, too, you will have pleasant talks with the eminent astronomers there. Prof. Young, who is so skilful a worker with that most subtle of tidings from the stars, the spectroscope--always, it seems hitherto bringing word of the "vast similitude that interlocks all," nay, of the absolute identity of the stuff they are made of with the stuff we are made of. The news from Dartmouth that too, is a great pleasure. It has been what seems to me a very long while since last writing, because it has been a troubled time within & what I wrote I tore up again, believing it was best, wisest so. You said in your first letter that if you had leisure you could write one that "would do me good & you too"; write that letter dear Friend after you have been to Dartmouth[14]--for I sorely need it. Perhaps the letters that I have sent you since that first, have given you a feeling of constraint towards me because you cannot respond to them. I will not write any more such letters; or, if I write them because my heart is so full it cannot bear it, they shall not find their way to the Post. But do not, because I give you more than friendship, think that it would not be a very dear & happy thing to me to have friendship only from you. I do not want you to write what it is any effort to write--do not ask for deep thoughts, deep feelings--know well those must choose their own time & mode--but for the simplest current details--for any thing that helps my eyes to pierce the distance & see you as you live & move to-day. I dearly like to hear about your Mother--want to know if all your sisters are married, & if you have plenty of little nephews & nieces--I like to hear anything about Mr. O'Connor[15] & Mr. Burroughs,[16] towards both of whom I feel as toward friends. (Has Mr. O'Connor succeeded in getting practically adopted his new method of making cast steel? Percy[17] being a worker in the field of metallurgy makes me specially glad to hear about this.) Then, I need not tell you how deep an interest I feel in American politics & want to know if you are satisfied with the result of the Cincinnati Convention & what of Mr. Greely?[18] & what you augur as to his success--I am sure dear friend, if you realize the joy it is to me to receive a few words from you--about anything that is passing in your thoughts & around--how beaming bright & happy the day a letter comes & many days after--how light hearted & alert I set about my daily tasks, it would not seem irksome to you to write. And if you say, "Read my books, & be content--you have me in them," I say, it is because I read them so that I am not content. It is an effort to me to turn to any