The bell-ringing and the dancing and the feasting are not, on this particular year, to our liking.

We see all our children gone--half of them to nests of their own building, the rest on errands of their own pleasure, and we are left, young yet, but the main job of life behind us! We're going down to a cottage in southern North Carolina (with our own cook and motor car, praise God!) for February, still further to think this thing out and incidentally to build us a library, in which we'll live when we can.

That, for convention's sake, we call a Vacation.
Your brave note came to-day.

Of course, you'll "get" 'em--those small enemies.

The gain of twelve pounds tells the story.