Our plan is to start home Tuesday, stopping a day or so in New York & reaching Hartford Saturday afternoon. Clara Spaulding has secured a fine cook, to our great relief. The children are reported well. Last night mother had a stomach ache, & Susie Crane stepped into the closet where the district-telegraph machine is, to call the doctor, but made a mistake & called the fire-department! In two minutes the yard & adjacent streets were swarming with shouting men & shrieking steam fire engines. None of us knew what it meant, as Sue did not know she had made any mistake. It was the biggest audience that a stomach ache ever called together in this State, I judge.

Livy is improving, little by little—& that isn’t saying much—still her stay here has been quite a benefit.

We are ever so sorry Ma has to suffer so much, but we hope to hear soon that that distemper is passing away. With love to all.