It was a picture handsomer than any of ’em, framed by Thomas J., that hung up in our parlor. Close by the winder, and right in front of it, was a rose-bush and a wax bull, full of bright scarlet, and snow-white berries. And over ’em flamed out a maple, dressed up in more colors than Joseph’s coat, and each color perfectly beautiful. The birds wus a-singin’ to the branches, sweet, and strong, and earnest, and though I couldn’t understand a word they said, still it was a very happyfyin’ song to me. Through some of the maple branches I could see the blue sky a-shinin’ down; but lower down, through the boughs of the rose and wax bulls, I could see the east, a-lookin’ handsomer than I ever remembered seein’ the east look. It seemed as if it had fairly outdone itself, a-tryin’ to make a levely and beautiful startin’ place for the sun, to set out from on his daily tower. The sun seemed to enjoy it dretfully, havin’ such a levely home to set out from. It seemed to look so extremely attractive to him, that I knew, unless somethin’ uncommon happened, he would be punctual to be back there to the very minute, the next mornin’. And thinks’es I to myself, (for moral eppisodin’ has become almost a 2d or 3d nater to me), if home was always made so bright and attractive there would be other sons and heads of families that would be more punctual and delighted to get back to their startin’ places and homes at the exact minute. But I probably didn’t eppisode on this theme more’n a moment or a moment and a ½, though it is as noble and elevatin’ a theme as ever was eppisoded on, for another thought came to me, almost overpowerin’ly, as I see the sun a settin’ out so grand, and noble, and happy on his tower. The thought that come to me wus this; I wished that I too could set on a short tower. I had staid to home for quite a spell. And though home is the best spot in the hull world for a stiddy diet, still the appetite calls fur spices, and different sorts of food. Human nater, and especially wemen human nater likes a change and variety. And it does come kinder natural to a wemen to want to go a-visutin’, now and then, and sometimes oftner. I had been a-wonderin’ it over in my mind for a number of days, though as yet I had not tackled Josiah upon the subject, not knowin’ how he would take it, but knowin’ well that men do not feel as wimmen do about visatin’.