The magnitude of the undertaking has deterred Orestes from writing down some reminders of their father Orestes A. Brownson, as Henry requested him to do. He remembers their father's telling how when he preached his first sermon, although he wore a thick woolen suit, his exertion and excitement were so great that it was as wet as if he had fallen into the river. Henry will know how he got over all that. Before he was acquainted with their mother and married, his prodigious memory had been noticed by a school trustee, who in Grandfather arranged a match between his Sally Healy Brownson and the young teacher, in which 20 verses of one of the Psalms were to be learned as a test. Both reported ready at once—in 20 minutes. Their father also gave their mother credit for the most tenacious memory as to dates, and Orestes remembers his asking her when such an event took place; and she gave the day as being so many days after the meeting of the ministers. In arithmetic also, he always said, "Ask your mother"; and when at the Hospital she added up the long columns of figures with unfailing accuracy. Somehow he did not like mathematical calculations. One day when money was scarce, he came from the city with an armful of books. Never had Orestes seen him so pleased and proud. He showed them to their mother, Greek and Latin, and said, "Only think, I got them for $125". But this was at a time Henry well remembers. In earlier days, when he was a Minister and in a great loose dress used to preach with all the serious earnestness of life and death, he impressed Orestes with an idea of fear that he can never overcome. His whole soul was in his metaphysical, philosophical and theological studies and did not see that what interested him could not interest his son Orestes. Henry knows better the wonderful scope and power of his giant mind. He told Orestes once, "If I am a success in life. I owe it to my knowledge and use of my mother tongue of English— Anglo-Saxon English." Orestes finds it so; there seems such a command of language, such felicity of expression, always the best word in every case and withal such an enthusiasm. Although Orestes never could and cannot yet agree with all his conclusions, he is lost in admiration at his language and infallible logic. His example does more to prove a divine essence in faith than all else he has witnessed. But it saddens Orestes to write of him. He feels himself approaching the end of his life and the problem of life is insoluable to him as ever. He would like to live his life over again or do something towards making it a success. But he sees nothing—he thinks much but cannot think or agree entirely with anyone. He cannot publish his thoughts, for his life would be taken before he could begin to explain. While he has reason to fear being as wrong in matters of social, political, economic or religious questions, as he always has been in the business of life, there seems no way to test his ideas or to show their fallacies. He read the papers of the Catholic Congress and would like to discuss portions he disagrees with; but as his son Charley says, it does not pay to fight the Church; and the moment any discussion begins, it is understood as contra fidem. Therefore he buries himself in chess: for there no one objects to one's moving any way one pleases, or thinks it strange to reason for or against any kind of play. He asks how the lecture succeeded, how Henry and his family are. He and his wife are the same, though his sight is failing. :: III-3-d A.L.S. 17pp. 32mo.