We enjoy so much every letter that we recieve from you both. I hope you will write us just as often as you feel moved to— We are so glad that you both seem so happy and contented, we are particularly anxious that you should have notinhing to feel worried about.

We are now all at my sister’s on the hill near Elmira, as I write baby Jean is sitting beside me playing with a little basket of marbles, Mr Clemens is lying on the sofa watching her and every little while laughing at her performances. She is a dear fat healthy little baby, and a great comfort to us all. She looks very much like her father and is very fond of him, she will go to him from any one—in fact begins to scold to have him take her as soon as he comes in sight.

We had a long and very tiresome trip from the sea side here but now that we are nicely settled here we feel so very exceedingly satisfied and contented, it gives the children a taste of real country life. It is a most lovely spot my sister has never staid here during the Winter, but she is going to try next Winter and see if they can be comfortable, it is on a high very bleak spot, and it may be too hard for her husband to go up and down the hill in the Winter, the roads are so very slippery with ice and snow that it is difficult for a horse to go up and down sometimes, and as he is obliged to go down every morning to his business and up every night they may find that it is not practicable to stay through the Winter, they have spent nine Summers here and we have spent four or five with them— Little Jean was born here last Summer, and Clara was born here seven years ago last June.

Have I ever written you about Genl Noyes’ reception? I think you did very wisely not to accept the invitation because one cannot be in society and work well, and so long as the invitation was given verbally and Mr Gerhardt said at the time that he thought it likely that you would not be able to go that was sufficient. Perhaps you better get a few blank cards and when you have invitations that you do not think it best to accept Mr Gerhardt or you can write just a formal declination, because you want to recognize any ones civility to you.

We want you and Mr Gerhardt to have some card photographs taken for us, we want to see both your faces. When you left us we felt as if some one very near to us was gone from us.

I am afraid Mr Gerhardt is working too hard, from his being sick with a fever for a week. He must be very careful it is not true economy to over work. Do not either of you feel too anxious to send home something to show us that you are getting on well, we believe that, even without the sight, don’t have the least fret or anxiety for fear we shall not be satisfied— We are satisfied and we don’t want you to worry or feel that you must have something to show. Keep a cheerful happy spirit both of you, work faithfully but without any sense of hurry or worry or over desire to have us know what you are doing.

We know from your letters that you are very busy and keenly alive to your work, that is all we want, if it is two years before we have any further testimony we shall be entirely content. So possess your souls in patience, and don’t be anxious.

Did you see Mrs Warner? You have not spoken of seeing her.

We are all well and having a very happy Summer.

You write sweet dear letters Mrs Gerhardt and they touch and please me very much, so pour out all your heart toⒶemendation me just as often as you want to.

With affectionate greeting from both of us to both of you I am yours