long-sighted we become, and the less do we see and concern ourselves about the things under our noses.
On January 8th, 1838, my mother wrote from Pau to he mother: "We have had a very slight proportion of wet. Last autumn was lovely, and although so far there is nothing decidedly brilliant noticeable in the sun and climate, yet there is much douceur. We have, perhaps, one or two mornings of rain, and then a bright sun that surprises Nurse, who had been accustomed to London fogs, and can scarcely believe that the sun shines in November. Though the climate here suits invalids remarkably well, and children especially, and ours have not had a day's illness since their settlement in this house, and have grown as round and rosy as possible—yet I do not think it suits all folks, among whom I may enumerate myself. I attribute a great feeling of debility, that I have lately experienced, to this in part, in the other, to absence of the good nourishing food I was accustomed to (and you know dear Papa used to say I played a good fist at dinner). For some time past Edward, myself and nurse, had taken such a distaste to a certain goût which characterized the traiteur's dishes that we have acquired a disrelish for most food, particularly animal food, and really ate too little. Starvation did not disagree with Edward, and Nurse grew fatter on it, but I looked and felt but dismal on it. . . . One evening I chose to faint away for so long a time that Edward was alarmed, and sent off tout de suite for the doctor, who came, felt my pulse, looked sagacious, and said that I was decidedly too low, must live generously, take tonics, etc., which I have been doing ever since, witness the meat suppers I can now manage. Nurse has undertaken the cooking, as well as the charge of the baby, who amuses himself, while she is scraping carrots and trussing fowls, with learning to run up and down a long and light wood-floored kitchen, which we now use in the double capacity of kitchen and nursery. The increased comfort, economy and wholesomeness of the food is considerable, and Nurse is now worth what we give her, and makes herself really useful. She is so cheerful and obliging about everything that for the first time since she has been with us we have begun to feel reconciled to her; she thinks nothing a trouble, is always good-natured, and seems in her element; and she certainly cooks very nicely. I should like to let you see the little ones in
