Frank did see John Hill and found him a very pleasant gentleman. He said he would call but has not. Congress has been absorbed in the Tariff Question and all else has had to stand aaside. You have no idea of the excitement and worry and crush of these last days of Congress. They have been going till midnight every night for weeks and tonight is the last night. I am going out just after dinner to see the thing through. I went out last night and could get in neither Senate nor the House, notwithstanding my ticket to the members gallery. Thousands were anxiously waiting for a chance to get in and all those long lobbeys were full. It was a scene to remember. I enjoy it very much. More every time I go. Amos Townsend, who by the way has called on us, gave us one of the finest committee rooms and I found a Mr. Gray and a Miss Wheelock of Cleveland we had a good time.

I am getting to know lots of people. Mrs. Capt. McClure called this week and so did Mary Avery and a friend of hers, and a good many others.

My trunk came all right and nothing broke but my ice cream set, the tray was broken in fifty pieces and one of the small plates. Nothing else. My tete a tete set that Lizzie gave me is lovely. Pink and beautifully painted.

I received Miss Mc Vay’s letter and the one from Europe.

I never miss a church service on Sunday, only the evening I spent at John Shermans. My blue silk cuts some, not so much as I thought it would.

We have a caterer now and the meals are splendid. I am glad to-morrow is Sunday. I always want to know what we have for dinner.

I am going to hear the Opera “Martha” this week.

Frank and I get on exceedingly well. It is wonderful how much better he is. He eats everything and is in the wildest mood. He continually plays some trick on me and I get taken in a dozen times a day. Mrs. Hood is so good to me. Says she feels as though I were her daughter.

Sunday A.M.

I took Mrs. Neal and some Brig. General’s wife and young lady daughter into the members gallery with me last night. It was very fine. The gallery is not large and the winves and daughters were decked out regardless.

How I should love to see you all. Will write a better letter soon.

Lovingly,

Joe.

The box of cake came this morning and never did turkey and cake taste so good. Indeed you can bake good cake. We are saving it to eat with our lunch to-day.

I thought about you yesterday and wished we could be there. I told Mrs. Hood I knew just how you would all look and how good the dinner would be. I am as fat as can be and feel tip top. Frank has a very bad sore throat and will not go to the Doctor. He is very well excepting that and is looking better than I have seen him for years. We tell ourselves everyday that we are pretty good fellows and get along finely. Yesterday I was alone from lunch till dinner time and I wrote a letter for the Herald. When Frank came home I showed it to him and he wanted to send it to The Leader, but I would not let him. So he sent it to Mr. Harn, and thinks it good. I felt it was not carefully enough written but I’ll try to do better again. Don’t say anything to any one of my having sent it. It will be printed next week, I suppose.

I went to market with Mrs. Hood one morning this week and I never saw any thing that interested me so much. I could have gotten a large bunch of double sweet scented violets for twenty-five cents. It was too late to have had them reach you for the birthday or I would have sent some. The outside of the market has a Southern look, such as one sees in pictures. There were rows of old black women in all sorts of rigs, squatted on the pavement with bunches of tobacco, sage, and little bunches of herbs in front of them. The inside of the market is clean, large, and the best of everything may be found. I am going again.

I went with Miss Hood and Miss Widdicombe to the Corcoran Gallery day before yesterday. This is my second visit and Frank has not been at all. I saw them put up a picture that we could not get in our house I think. This week I want to go to the Navy Yard and the Museum again and make three calls. We are going to St. Johns Church on Sunday A.M. They have the best clergyman in the city and the President goes there to church. I found an Episcopal Church I like very much last Sunday and went there twice. The Bishop preaches there and has two clergymen to aid him. I want to hear the music, then I will settle down to Dr. Bartletts near here (Presbyterian).

Ten kisses to Papa and ten to Mary and ten to you.

Your loving daughter.

We are having now some of the rain you have had, and to-day it is dark and gloomy. I have set apart Thursday for my letter writing, and am going to send out five to-day. I am getting pretty well caught up but have some to answer still. Letters are a very great pleasure to me now and I hope you at home will keep this in mind.

Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Bowland were here last evening, and to-night Mrs. Neal and I are going out on Q Street to see them. Mrs. Ford is the handsomest woman I ever saw. She is Governor Tom Ford’s wife and is said to be the handsomest woman in Washington. She has beautiful white hair, is tall and very well built.

I never saw so many young gray-haired women as I see here. It is really wonderful. Mrs. Neal’s hair is white, but she is old.

We have started a new plan in the eating business. We found it took too much time as we were from an hour to an hour and a half at each meal at Mrs. Lockwoods, so we have engaged a caterer to bring our meals to us. That is, breakfast at 9:30 and Dinner at 5:30. Lunch, we get anywhere. We bought a perfect jewel of a stove–burn a sort of oil and it is the best thing of the kind I ever saw. Is very powerful and small enough to put in a trunk. Is iron and cost $3.50. I want Mamma to use it when I come home and perhaps she will want one just like it. I got half a dozen napkins yesterday and will have to procure two small tableclothes.

I am very well and like Washington as well as I could like any place so far away from you all. I went to hear Warde in “Shylock.” Frank was anxious to hear him as he plays John Howard Payne’s new play, and he has written a letter about him. I expect to hear “Iolanthe” by the Fords next week. I’ll think of you. Patti is coming but I will not go unless I can get a very cheap ticket. Frank says I shall go to the whole thing–seven concerts–but I do not think it best. I am helping with the newspaper work and am pegging away at shorthand. It is about the same as Greek now, however. Have so much to do must close and Frank says: “Give my love to your Father.” Will write again on Sunday.

Your loving, Joe.