All is over & I have now a respite from all but self-imposed tasks, which I scarcely consider as tasks. My graduating exercises went off favorably, but I could not help wishing I could see one face that I missed although I suppose it was wrong for I know you would have come had you been able. Mrs. Choate & Miss Brown came out & took tea with me. I enclose a programmeEditorial Note: See 142.23.004. of the exercises thinking you may be sufficiently interested to glance it over. The hall was prettily decorated with flowers & green & many of the graduates were dressed in white making a lovely spectacle to look upon. Florence also finished her course at the Grammar School on the same day, & next year we shall be together; she a junior, I a grave senior of the same school. When I see you I will endeavor to read you my essay- I would send it to you but there are many points in it which need explanation to comprehend. Yesterday afternoon FlorenceAs Written:F. & I went to the annual school festival of all the graduates at Music Hall, where speeches are made, a collation served, bouquets distributed, & then the floor is cleared for dancing. I enjoyed myself much but owing to the national calamityEditorial Note: James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, was shot on July 2, 1881. He died 79 days later on September 19, 1881. it was thought best to stop the dancing earlier than usual. Is it not a terrible atrocity, that in a highly civilized republic the chief executive officer is foully assassinated? The sudden change from the reports that he is dying & cannot live long to those of his wonderful & unexpected revival, beyond anything that his physician had dared to hope, leads Mother and me to think strongly that you have brought the power of Truth to bear upon him. Pardon me if I step beyond proper limits, but is not his life, the life of our President, more valuable to you & every American, than that of a foreign prince which once you turned your hand to save? Oh! Mrs. Eddy forgive me if my words are unwise but I could not hold them back. I fear I shall say too much if I continue so let me drop the subject, begging you will pardon if I have offended. You cannot tell how I miss seeing you todayAs Written:to day, though I am glad for your sake, you were not obliged to come to the city.