Most  affectionately,  "Boss."

TOff.L.  CRUMLBr.
Porter  Springs^  Ga.,  July  19,  1877.
My  Dear  Boy:  I  am  sure  that  the  date  of  my  letter  must
suggest  to  you  July  19,  1876,  when  our  party,  somewhat
saddened  by  recent  good-byes,  yet  full  of  bright  anticipations
of  pleasure,  left  Atlanta  for  the  Centennial.  I  shall  think  of
my  boy  and  girl,  Howard  and  Mattie,  very  many  times  dur-
ing the  next  five  weeks,  as  the  anniversaries  of  some  days
come  that  we  enjoyed  together  last  year.  I  have  no  doubt
that  we  shall  recall  with  more  than  wonted  pleasure  during
these  summer  days  the  experiences  and  delights  of  the  Cen-
teimial  summer.  How  our  piarty  are  scattered  now  I  What
changes  another  year  may  bring  none  can  guess — we  can
know,  though,  that  an  all-wise  Father  guides,  that  nothing
can  happen  to  us  without  his  will,  that  what  he  wills  is  best

I  tiiink  that  I  owe  you  an  apology  for  my  Icmg  silence.
For  the  last  two  months  of  school-— after  Miss  Taylor's  resig-
nation— I  was  just  as  busy  as  could  be.  When  school  du-
ties were  over,  after  a  few  days  of  hurried  preparation,  I
came  with  mother,  Mrs.  Boynton,  Sr.,  Clara  and  Charlie
Boynton,  to  Porter  Springs.  I  have  not  been  very  well  since
I  have  been  here,  and  so  have  abandoned  myself  to  the
sweets  of  rest  and  idleness,  the  dolce  far  niente  of  the  Ital-
ians.
