the fingers of her art. And so my little page is full and I am my dearest old Mother's & G. P.'s affte W. M. T.
When Wm. Grey goes to Paris you'll have the use of the bag again.
Brighting. [ 1852].
MY DEAREST MINNIKIN,--Kensington is so gloomy without certain young ladies that I can't stand it. How dismal it must be for poor Eliza who has no friends to go to: who must stop in the kitchen all day--as I think of her I feel a mind to go back and sit in the kitchen with Eliza! but I daresay I shouldn't amuse her much, and after she had told me about the cat and how her father was, we should have nothing more to say to one another.
Last week I was away at Manchester and I thought what a state my dear little women would have been in, when I broke down in a speech before 3000 ladies and gentlemen.--I felt very foolish, but I tried again at night and did better; and as there's nothing more wicked in breaking down in a speech than in slipping on a piece of orange peel and breaking one's nose, why I got up again--and made another speech at night without breaking down. It's all custom and most people can no more do it than they can play the piano without learning--I hope you and Anny are learning hard to play me to sleep when I come back from America.
I believe I am going to Birmingham next week with the lectures and then to Manchester & Liverpool and then Steward: bring a basin. Well that will be over soon and my dearest children back to me please God. Meanwhile young women you are in luck to have 2 homes and to be happy in one while t'other is being painted and made more comfortable --for I shall be immensely more comfortable when I
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