Literary Labors.—Complete List of Published Books.—First Reading Tour.—Peeps Behind the Curtain.—Some New England Cities.—A Letter from Maine.—Pleasant and Unpleasant Readings.—Second Tour.—A Western Journey.—Visit to Old Scenes.—Celebration of Seventieth Birthday.—Congratulatory Poems from Mr. Whittier and Dr. Holmes.—Last Words.

Besides the annual journeys to and from Florida, and her many interests in the South, Mrs. Stowe's time between 1870 and 1880 was largely occupied by literary and kindred labors. In the autumn of 1871 we find her writing to her daughters as follows regarding her work:—

"I have at last finished all my part in the third book of mine that is to come out this year, to wit 'Oldtown Fireside Stories,' and you can have no idea what a perfect luxury of rest it is to be free from all literary engagements, of all kinds, sorts, or descriptions. I feel like a poor woman I once read about,—

"'Who always was tired,
'Cause she lived in a house
Where help wasn't hired,'

and of whom it is related that in her dying moments,

"'She folded her hands
With her latest endeavor,
Saying nothing, dear nothing,
Sweet nothing forever.'

"I am in about her state of mind. I luxuriate in laziness. I do not want to do anything or go anywhere. I only want to sink down into lazy enjoyment of living."

She was certainly well entitled to a rest, for never had there been a more laborious literary life. In addition to the twenty-three books already written, she had prepared for various magazines and journals an incredible number of short stories, letters of travel, essays, and other articles. Yet with all she had accomplished, and tired as she was, she still had seven books to write, besides many more short stories, before her work should be done. As her literary life did not really begin until 1852, the bulk of her work has been accomplished within twenty-six years, as will be seen from the following list of her books, arranged in the chronological order of their publication:—