My dear Rob, That mail must not go tomorrow without a loving message from me also. May it find you in as bright health and spirits as when you were writing the sheets of Oct. 3rd to 5th that we still turn to as our latest from you. Would that Some "little bird" could tell us just how and where you are today! But Patience is the word for these times, especially for us, with all this distance between and I'll not say more of what we could desire.
     You will have learned from Ogden that your good letter found us in the country, yes, actually off among the hills. And such hills, dear Rob! Language

always fails me when I try to say how beautiful they are, and what thorough enjoyment we had in exploring them. Three weeks we stayed in their vicinity, living in an Indian house that would have diverted you immensely to see; and there was hardly a morning or afternoon that we did not take a long walk or ride, nearly always to some point not reached by us before. The vacation did us both worlds of good, and we brought back greatly renewed strength to meet the claims of the far less genial town life.
     Let me see. It was on the last day of the year that we returned — we had been down for a day and night, though, the previous week, and I then dispatched a missive to you. Some China friends had arrived at a house

nearby during our absence, and a history of these weeks between would be just an account of attentions paid to and pleasure shared with those very agreeable ladies. A week ago tonight their host, Mr. Griswold, invited us to join a boat-excursion by moonlight. I wish you could have been with us! Never was a more perfect night; and to add to its charms we had a band in another boat discoursing for us most pleasant music. On the previous evening a smaller and still more congenial, party of us had driven some five or six miles up the river, and then taken a large canoe that had been sent up beforehand (with mat, and cushions for seats,) and had wound down above the beautiful banks till we reached a point where we could best take the carriages

again. I believe the ladies finally voted that the most agreeable of all the many good evenings we had. — A paper has come up to me from the Office, saying "a Steamer outside" has been telegraphed. Who knows, dear Rob, but it may bring the two mails which have been so long delayed? It is over five weeks now since the last was received, and we are inexpressibly thirsty for "news." The thought that they may indeed be at hand so excites me that I believe I had much better leave these scribblings till the morning.

     24th P. M. That was not the mail steamer, Robin dear, but the one that came in this morning was, and we have our letters this very moment. There is one from you which Ogden will presently bring up to me, I know, and I daresay meanwhile he will tell [illeg] what date

it is. I am sure he's head is full of thankfulness at receiving it. God bless you, dear boy, and keep you for us all.

Ever your own loving sister
Nellie