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in margin: I am growing better every day Louie Muir in margin: 852 4 But I have not told you of her trial yesterday morning,
which will explain the hurried ending of my letter. She had been so happy with me all morning, but the swollen gums began
to hurt when I began to write, and she wanted to come back to me, and when I said no, no, baby must not come now, her eyes
filled with wonder and grief as if she thought Mamma does not love me any more and nothing that any other could do would make
her satisfied. Ought I to have begun a lesson in discipline? I did not, but just took her in my arms, and kissed and petted,
and at last comforted her till she went to sleep with all care kissed away. There is too much light, and she is waking now,
to say, Good night papa. O my beloved husband, good bye, God keep you in His tender care. 1 Monday, July 25, 1881. 9 P.M.
Dear John, Our bonnie Annie Wanda is sleeping as quietly as a folded flower: no shadow of this morning s trouble on her
sweet face, but when I bend over for still another kiss, a happy little smile quivers over it for a moment. O papa, if only
you were here to see Evening after evening, I hold her in my arms at our east window while she looks out with eager eyes at
the sunset glow upon the hills, and reaches out her arms, and laughs and croons in delight. I forgot all fear, and think only
of the blessed time when our own best-beloved will come home to us, and sing to his baby the auld Scotch songs , and then
of the after-time