(Music omitted.) 'Mid pleas-ures and paaal-a-a-c-es. Set Fair.
Mrs. H.
I will have it! You horrid— Stormy.
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. Yours ever,
O. W. HOLMES.
There are many notes also showing how the two friends played into each other's hands. This one is a sample:—
21 CHARLES STREET, July 17, 1864.
MY DEAR MR. FIELDS,—Can you tell me anything that will get this horrible old woman of the C—— California off from my shoulders? Do you know anything about this pestilent manuscript she raves about? This continent is not big enough for me and her together, and if she doesn't jump into the Pacific I shall have to leap into the Atlantic —I mean the original damp spot so called. Yours always,
O. W. HOLMES.
P. S. To avoid the necessity of the latter, I have written to her, cordially recommending suicide as adapted to her case.