Do scoffers say thou canst not hold the reins of
government? Easier is it to rule a band of savages than to be the
successful autocrat of thy little kingdom. Compared with the ways
of men, even thy failures are full of glory. Be thy faults what
they may, thy one great, mysterious, unapproachable success places
thee, in desert, far above warrior, rabbi or priest.
The foregoing soliloquy passed through my mind as I lay upon the
bed where I had thrown myself after leaving the children's room.
Whatever else attempted to affect me mentally found my mind a
blank until the next morning, when I awoke to realize that I had
dropped asleep just where I fell, and that I had spent nearly
twelve hours lying across a bed in an uncomfortable position, and
without removing my daily attire. My next impression was that
quite a bulky letter had been pushed under my chamber-door. Could
it be that my darling--I hastily seized the envelope and found it
addressed in my sister's writing, and promising a more voluminous
letter than that lady had ever before honored me with. I opened
it, dropping an enclosure which doubtless was a list of
necessities which I would please pack, etc., and read as follows:--
"JULY 1, 1875.
"MY DEAR OLD BROTHER:--WOULDN'T I like to give you the warmest of
sisterly hugs? I can't believe it, and yet I'm in ecstasies over
it.
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