My aunt Landholm is very kind; but I think she would like an increase of her household accommodations, and also that she would prefer working it by the rule of _subtraction_ rather than by the more usual and obvious way of _addition_.

She is a good soul, but really I believe her larder contains nothing but pork, and her pantry nothing but -- pumpkins! She has actually contrived, by some abominable mystery of the kitchen, to keep some of them over through a period of frost and oblivion, and to-day they made their appearance in _due form_ on the table again; my horror at which appearance has I believe given me an indigestion, to which you may attribute whatever of gloominess there may be contained in this letter.
I certainly felt very _heavy_ when I sat down; but the sight of all your faces through fancy's sweet medium has greatly refreshed me.
"Nevertheless answer me speedily, for I am in earnest, although I am in jest.
"I intend to see you at all events soon.
"Love to the little ones and to dear ma and pa from "Rufus." "What does father say, mother ?" was all Winthrop's commentary on this epistle.

She gave him the other letter, and he yielded his brother's again to her stretched-out hand.
"Vantassel, March 22, 1809.
"My dear Orphah, "I am really coming home! I never knew any months so long, it seems to me, as these three.

The business will be finished I believe next week, and the Session will rise, and the first use I shall make of my recovered freedom will be -- can you doubt it?
-- to hasten home to my family.

My dear family -- they are closer to me all the time than you think, and for some weeks past it seems to me they have had half of every thought.
But I will be with you now, Providence willing, by the middle of the week, I hope, or as soon after as I can.
"The last fortnight has been spent in talking -- we have had a very stormy discussion of that point I spoke to you of in my last.