I mustn’t venture to write to Miss Mitchell; so I want to ask you to be my messenger to her & congratulate her upon the good fortune which God has bestowed upon her, & which she without any doubt comes as near deserving as anybody could. I think she has done exceedingly well, & I rejoice with her beyond the power of words to express.

And now I am relieved of a burden which has long been secretly oppressing my heart. Months ago, fully aware of the relations existing between you & my daughter, I was shocked & grieved to discover that she had transferred her affections to a horse. kitten. I would have written you & exposed her treason, but I could not break your heart; & so I lingered, hoping that you or the horse kitten would die, & so disburden me of my shame & sorrow. I tried to think of other ways out. But none occurred to me. Yet Providence takes the thing in hand, & lo, by a simple turn of the Supreme wrist, everything is lovely & the goose hangs high. How wonderful are the ways of Providence, when you come to look at it. Good-bye,—we all send our very warmest congratulations.