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 THE RANDALL FAMILY 11/

knee- deep mud and melting snow one must be confined altogether to the house. I think it will be best to visit Beverly when the weather is more settled, next Spring or Summer rather than in this comfortless season. As I learn that your vacation is about finished, I probably should see you but a day or so, after which you will not be far away. Meantime I am busy in certain Natural His- tory studies which I ought scarcely to break in upon, as it is the chiefly industrious season of my year. But I shall try ere many weeks to make your mother a little visit.

I am glad to hear that Emily is better, and I suppose it is a satisfaction to you to have afforded some amusement. In a few weeks more the season for out-of-door exercise will commence, and I suppose she will then be able to re- establish her health. I shall bespeak your grandfather beforehand, that he may give us his company next May, at such time as when the conclave of the pious meets at Boston and sanctifies the city by its presence, when the good angels are buzzing about by day and the evil ones are asleep at night — all save those which, in the shape of tom and tabby cats, so bedin the woodsheds with their howling.

It may interest you to know that, it having been discov- ered that Dr. bears the closest resemblance to the

painter Correggio, Mr. Tudor of Nahant has seen fit to em- ploy an eminent English artist to copy the Dr. 's visage on canvas while he "yet lives," and thus in a manner kill two birds with one stone, i.e. the two birds Dr. and Cor- reggio. The picture has been finished, I have not seen it, but it is said, either from deficient talent in the painter or from some other cause, not to be handsome. . ..

Yours truly,

J. w. R.

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