CHAPTER III.
Happy Days with Mrs.Botta--My Busy Life in New York--President Barnard of Columbia College--A Surprise from Bierstadt--Professor Doremus, a Universal Genius--Charles H.Webb, a truly funny "Funny Man"-- Mrs.Esther Hermann, a Modest Giver.
I was obliged to give up my work at Packer Institute, when diphtheria attacked me, but a wonderful joy came to me after recovery.
Mrs.Vincenzo Botta invited me to her home in West Thirty-seventh Street for the winter and spring.

Anne C.Lynch, many years before her marriage to Mr.Botta, had taught at the Packer Institute herself, and at that time had a few rooms on West Ninth Street.

She told me she used to take a hurried breakfast standing by the kitchen table; then saying good-bye to the mother to whom she was devoted, walked from Ninth Street to the Brooklyn ferry, then up Joralemon Street, as she was required to be present at morning prayers.

Her means were limited at that time and carfare would take too much.

But it was then that she started and maintained her "Saturday Evenings," which became so attractive and famous that N.P.Willis wrote of them that no one of any distinction thought a visit to New York complete without spending a Saturday evening with Miss Lynch.