"My Lawd! 'Tis a good t'ing ter travel wid a pusson w'at hab a strong heart. Miss Pashuns, you bring me over dat ribber! I didn't trust fer cum, but you bring me."
"I know you are glad, Aaron."
"Too glad, E mek me feel too good, I got back me y'uth."
I got out on the wharf, very tremulous in my arms from the effort, but as happy over it as Aaron. I told him he must wait until sunset to return, for the wind almost always falls then. I found J. G. waiting with the surrey and was so very glad I had persisted in coming, for he said he would have waited until night for me.
Met with a delightfully cordial welcome and a dinner of delicious sailors' choice, fresh from the sea.
The-Rectory-on-the-Sea, July 8.
It is too delightful here! Words cannot express how much I enjoy this beloved sea, the invigorating breeze, and the smell of the ocean! I did enjoy my night's rest so much with the glorious boom of the waves breaking on the beach, which I have not heard for so long.
The family are charming, and go on with their various occupations, and I just sit on the piazza pretending to embroider a shirt-waist, but in reality just drinking in the beauty and goodness of that "great first cause, least understood," as Pope expressed it, whose purposes we read awry, whose mercies we so often mistake for punishments, whose wisdom we so often doubt, and whose hourly call for our hearts we refuse, and still he lavishes his beauty and goodness upon us!
Sunday, July 10.
This morning coming from the dear little chapel of All Saints on the sea-shore, where we had service, I met Mr. L., and had the offer of a magnificent St. Bernard dog. I certainly am fortunate about dogs. My only fear is that he and my fine red setter may fight, for they say he is hard on dogs, though very mild to human beings. He is a beauty and would be a great possession to me. I feel quite sure he would not fight MacDuff, my terrier, for he has the gift of winning love from all, man and beast. Don, the setter, who is jealous of everything else, has never been jealous of him.