Page:The Life of Mary Baker Eddy (Wilbur).djvu/392

346 morning it was her custom to walk through the various rooms of her house on a tour of friendly inspection, whereon she not infrequently directed some change in the adjustment of furnishings and draperies; but mainly the tour was one of cheerful sociability when she talked with every member of her household, the laundress and the gardener’s assistant not being neglected in words of commendation and sallies of wit or spiritual admonition. The love and reverence in which all held her made her coming an anticipation of each day.

After her regular morning exercise (which at Pleasant View was in fine weather frequently a walk about the artificial pond which some of her students had caused to be built in the lower garden, and on less agreeable days an hour’s pacing of the covered veranda) Mrs. Eddy returned to her study where her secretary brought her letters. After dinner, which it was her custom to take in the middle of the day, she usually went for a drive. As the daily drive was the only occasion on which she was seen in public for many years, it became a matter of public interest and her Concord neighbors took pleasure in meeting her brougham, drawn by a sober pair of black horses. They would bow their friendly salutations or occasionally, when she ordered her coachman to stop and summoned them with a kindly and courteous gesture, would approach her carriage and shake hands with the venerable religionist.

During the nineties Mrs. Eddy made several visits to Boston. After the completion of the original Mother Church she made a journey especially to