Page:A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury.pdf/181

Rh I got through, and left on the cars at 3.45 Travelled all day; reached Ann Arbor at 8  found an audience waiting for me; hopped out, went straight to lecturing, delighted the audience, rode a mile to a party, took a hot supper, and so back to the cars at 10; travelled all night in a sleeping-car, and reached this place at 9 this morning; so here I am. Have just had dinner, and am going to try for a nap presently. I told M., of the Rural New Yorker, to send you a cheque; write your name across the back of it, send it to the General, and ask him to get the money for you.

Where's my Betty, and where's my Nannie? I hope, if the latter went, the former came. On the 22nd I lecture here; 23rd in Kalamaso; 24th, no place fixed—perhaps Indianapolis; 25th, Cleveland; 26th, Laporte, Indiana, I reckon; 27th, here; 29th, Cincinnati. The weather is very cold. Kiss all my children, and tell me you are all well and happy. I want to astonish you with a present: tell Tots and Glum and Lucy and the boy to put their heads together and tell me what to bring. This is a furious storm! Give my love to Mary and sister E.; I hope the latter continues to mend. God bless us every one! I am mighty tired of staying away from home.

Yours, M. F.

I had a time of it in Chicago. Last night it rained worse than it rained Saturday night, and the attendance was slim. I stopped at Colonel Graham's, you know; he gave me a nice party last night. He was a soldier; he would have me waked up in time for the cars at 6; he never got left behind. He would have breakfast for me—at least, the cook would; but, bless your heart, honey! not a soul waked up till the cook came; so I was up and dressed and off in about ten minutes. When I arrived here, Senator Stuart, with a committee, was at the cars to escort me to the hotel. He and his wife leave for Washington Saturday; they will stop at the St. Charles. I wish you and Betty would call on her: I want to invite them up to spend the day when I get back.