From Pillar to Post 



claws, and father thinks he should be killed, 

 but we all say No, and are nursing him by turns. 

 He is a queer-looking dog, in bandages, but very 

 patient, and I am sure quite understands what 

 it all means. I came near forgetting to say that 

 the cat escaped and we are afraid now to go, 

 after dark, over to neighbor Pearson's." 



A wildcat in the spring-house ! Here we are 

 getting close to Nature, and who can say that 

 country-life since then has not suffered! We 

 have refrigerators now, it is true, and Tabby 

 puts her nose in, it may be, if the door is left 

 ajar, but a wildcat in the spring-house ! We of 

 to-day are all too late. We missed much by not 

 reaching the earth earlier. 



Here is an extract from still another letter, 

 written ninety years ago : ' ' Jane came rushing 

 into the kitchen, a little after dark, quite out of 

 breath and declaring between gasps that she 

 had seen a ghost. Father laughed and said he 

 would like to see it, but Jane would not go out, 

 so father and I went to the spot as she directed 

 us. I tell thee beforehand I never want to see a 

 real live ghost. What father and I saw was 

 quite sufficient. The moon was shining through 

 the misty air and a great white object moved to 



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