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mine, dying when I was six years old, did not live to see me sink in it. You may remember with pleasure, while you live, a blessing vouchsafed to you so long; and I, while I live, must regret a comfort of which I was deprived so early. I can truly say that not a week passes (perhaps I might with equal veracity say a day) in which I do not think of her. Such was the impression her tenderness made upon me, though the opportunity she had for showing it was so short. But the ways of God are equal; and when I reflect on the pangs she would have suffered had she been a witness of all mine, I see more cause to rejoice than to mourn that she was hidden in the grave so soon.

L. Agassiz to Charles Sumner

MY DEAR SUMNER:

CAMBRIDGE, Oct. 2, 1867.

You have my deepest and truest silent sympathy.
Ever truly your friend,

L. AGASSIZ.

LETTER ACKNOWLEDGING THE RECEIPT OF A

PRESENT

Of a Barometer

Oliver Wendell Holmes to James T. Fields

21 CHARLES STREET, July 6, 8.38 A.M. Barometer at 30.

MY DEAR FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR:

Your most unexpected gift, which is not a mere token of remembrance, but a permanently valuable present, is making me happier every moment I look at it. It is so pleasant to be thought of by our friends when they have so much to draw their thoughts away from us; it is so pleasant, too, to find that they have cared enough about us to study our special tastes — that you can see why

your beautiful gift has a growing charm for me. Only Mrs. Holmes thinks it ought to be in the parlor among the things for show, and I think it ought to be in the study, where I can look at it at least once an hour every day of my life.

I have observed some extraordinary movements of the index of the barometer during the discussion that ensued, which you may be interested to see my notes of :Mrs. H.

My dear, we shall of course keep this beautiful barometer in the parlor.

Dr. H.

Why, no, my dear; the study is the place.

Mrs. H.

I'm sure it ought to go in the parlor. It's too handsome for your old den.

Dr. H.

I shall keep it in the study.

Mrs. H.

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Barometer.

Fair.

Dry.

Change.

Very dry.

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You see what a wonderful instrument this is that you have given me. But, my dear Mr. Fields, while I watch its changes, it will be a constant memorial of unchanging friendship; and while the dark hand of fate is traversing the whole range of mortal vicissitudes, the golden index of the kind affections shall stand always at SET Fair.

CHAPTER XV

POSTAL INFORMATION

The Growth of the Post Office. From the earliest ages, governments have regarded posts as one of their exclusive privileges, to be controlled, granted away, and revoked as necessity demanded, or as pleased the whims of rulers. It is, therefore, not surprising that when the founders of our government formed the Constitution they provided

"That Congress shall have power to establish post offices and post roads."

From this beginning has grown that well-nigh indispensable institution which has become an essential part of our government, and which reaches practically every house in the land. In this age of quick communication, we forget how great has been the advance in a hundred years; in 1800, for example, the time required to exchange mail was more days than it takes hours at the present. With rapid transportation and present post-office facilities, we send forth our letters, and they quickly bring us news of our friends, and enable us readily to transact business with those hundreds of miles away.

The present Post-Office Department of the United

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