THE LAST YEARS 373 



able change in Mrs. Agassiz's physical condition took place; 

 she had no illness, but various minor indispositions left her 

 visibly older and she remained more or less of an invalid 

 through the autumn. Yet although the years then first 

 began to exact their toll, she was able to resume many of 

 her activities before the winter had passed, and the account 

 of her visit at Hamilton given below as well as the record 

 of some of her days shows that she by no means lost all 

 her earlier vigor in 1900. Time treated her gently, but be- 

 ginning w4th the late summer of that year," the leaves look 

 pale, dreading the winter's near." 



October 13, 1900. — Had a quiet morning. Dined 

 or lunched early after reading score of Beethoven 

 mass. Went to rehearsal. Did not feel fatigued. 



October 23. — A book when I am alone. I am finding 

 refuge in the Carlyle literature. I have read it all be- 

 fore years ago, but it not only bears but gains by a 

 second reading — the four volumes of Froude, the 

 Letters and Memorials, the Reminiscences — wonder- 

 ful presentation of a life. 



October 25. — Oh, how wonderful is this experience 

 of old age ! No one knows till they reach it how pass- 

 ing strange — on the brink of the Unknown ! I re- 

 member dear Sallie's pregnant saying, "How much 

 do you know of tomorrow? it is as much closed to 

 you as the greater future." 



• December 21^. — Governor Wolcott's funeral — the 

 whole town in mourning for a man beloved and re- 

 spected by every one, "stainless and fearless." Christ- 

 mas at Shady Hill — an interesting occasion always 

 — cheerful and informal, in the spirit truly Christ- 



