738 FINAL JOURNEYS AND WORK. [1882, 



Here we get on, prosper, indeed, quite without wis- 

 dom, or with very little of it. One of these days we 

 shall need it. There are things I should like to write 

 about. But my arm is not up to continued use. 



Mrs. Gray will send messages propria manu. So, 

 with my kindest regards to Mrs. Church and all your 

 happy family, I am affectionately, 



Yours, ASA GRAY. 



TO SIB EDWARD FRY. 



BEVERLY FARMS, December 1, 1882. 



We were very sorry to read in the telegraphic news 

 a few days ago of the destruction of Clevedon Court 

 by fire, a most sad and unexpected thing, but we hope 

 not so bad as the brief announcement portends. It 

 brought back to our memory the delightful afternoon 

 which Mrs. Gray and I passed there a year and some 

 months ago. A modern house can be replaced, but 

 not an old hall like this. It makes us sad to think of 

 it. Perhaps you can tell us that the loss was exag- 

 gerated in the telegraphic account. 



I am writing from the house of Mrs. Gray's brother, 

 on the seashore, where we are passing the " Thanks- 

 giving " holiday. " Thanksgiving Day ' is a Puritan 

 institution, was formerly confined to New England 

 and the districts settled by New Englanders, and has 

 been kept from the time of the landing of the Pil- 

 grims at Plymouth, and is annually appointed by the 

 governors of these States by proclamation. But 

 within the last fifteen or twenty years it has become 

 national, and the day, the fourth or the last Thursday 

 in November, is announced by a proclamation by the 

 President. In New England it long took the place 

 of Christmas, for which you know the Puritans had 



