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Mary and Howard, James and I went,
by private conveyance, and enjoyed
our week's absence from home very much.
The meeting was a month earlier than
usual on account of the roads, and we
had charming rides, for the trees were
at their most gorgeous, and the air was
pure elixer of Life. I wanted to pitch a
tent and spend days on Bakersfield Mt.
The massive, towering rocks in either side
covered with brilliant foliage, and glorious
old Morrisfield in front made me drunk
with beauty. But a ride in a drizzling rain
a while afterwards sobered me, effectually.
31st The trials of a housekeeper! No sooner do
I get fairly to writing when a neighbor calls,
or the wicked clock announces it is time
to put on the potatoes or the pies need
turning in the oven. I have been keeping
house all alone for over five weeks, a
thing I never did before. In fact I knew
very little about cooking and the thousand
things required to keep a family in good