A somewhat beautiful idea for Mandeville; and I fear he is getting to haveprivate thoughts about the Young Lady. Mandeville naturally likesthe robustness and sparkle of winter, and it has been a littlesuspicious to hear him express the hope that we shall have an earlyspring.

I wonder how many people there are in New England whom know the gloryand inspiration of a winter walk just before sunset, and that, too,not only on days of clear sky, when the west is aflame with a rosycolor, which has no suggestion of languor or unsatisfied longing init, but on dull days, when the sullen clouds hang about the horizon,full of threats of storm and the terrors of the gathering night. Weare somewhat busy with our own affairs, but there is always somethinggoing on out-doors worth looking at; and there is seldom an hourbefore sunset that has not some special attraction. And, besides, itputs one in the mood for the cheer and comfort of the open fire athome.

Probably if the people of New England could have a plebiscitum ontheir weather, they would vote against it, especially against winter.Almost no one speaks well of winter. And this suggests the idea thatmost people here were either born in the wrong place, or do not knowwhat is best for them. I doubt if these grumblers would be anymuch better satisfied, or would turn out as well, in the tropics.Everybody knows our virtues,--at least if they believe half we tellthem,--and for delicate beauty, that rare plant, I should look amongthe girls of the New England hills as confidently as anywhere, and Ihave traveled as far south as New Jersey, and west of the GeneseeValley. Indeed, it would be easy to show that the parents of thepretty girls in the West emigrated from New England. And yet--suchis the mystery of Providence--no one would expect that one of thesweetest and most delicate flowers that blooms, the trailing.arbutus, would blossom in this inhospitable climate, and peep forthfrom the edge of a snowbank at that.