J’s school is flourishing—There are four boys from Boston boarding with us. I don’t doubt it would have been very pleasant to Ellen on several accounts to have passed the summer with you—but I am not surprised she couldn’t be spared. I want she should make us a visit of [a] week or two . . .

  Tell little Mary that we have a black kitten, & that the martins have driven away the bluebirds & taken possession of their box.