I found a copy of Orion’s letter here—sent by him. It took me several hours to answer it, I had to tear up so many answers that were too severe. The one which I finally sent was also too severe, I suppose, but I it was milder than the others, anyway, & I saw that I was never likely to get myself into a really moderate humor. I told him his meddling was unwarrantable, considering that this matter was none of his business, & that I would like him to put his pen in the fire, since it was exactly as useful as a match in the hands of a child, & exactly as dangerous. I said that when Ma’s pocket shall have suffered as much from your mismanagement of her Tennessee land as it has from his, it will then be time for him to begin to belch holy indignation upon you.

We send our love to Annie, & we want to explain & apologize to you both for being so hurried & ◊◊ abrupt at the hotel; you see, our slim dinner was ready, & we were anxious to swallow it down & hasten back to Jean; & we could not venture to visit after dinner because Livy was dying with back-ache & I wanted to get her immediately to bed as soon as she could cook Jean’s supply of night-food.

We had a special sleeping-car, & Jean stood the journey well; but the richness of the milk here at the farm has upset her, & today nothing will stay on her stomach. She vomits every little while MS cut here, in the middle of the last line on the page

remainder of letter missing