Mrs. Prentiss passed more than two years abroad, mostly in Switzerland.  They were years burdened with heavy cares, with ill-health and keen solicitude concerning her husband.  But they were also years hallowed by signal mercies of Providence, bright every now and then with floods of real sunshine, and sweetened by many domestic joys.  Although quite secluded from the world a large portion of the time, her solitude was cheered by the constant arrival of letters from home.  During these years also she was first initiated into full communion with Nature; and what exquisite pleasure she tasted in this new experience, her own pen will tell.  Indeed, this period affords little of interest except that which blossomed out of her domestic life, her friendships, and her love of nature.  She travelled scarcely at all and caught only fugitive glimpses of society or of the treasures of European art.

A few simple records, therefore, of her retired home-life and of the impressions made upon her by Alpine scenery, as contained in her letters, must form the principal part of this chapter.  Her correspondence, while abroad, would make a large volume by itself; in selecting from it what follows, the aim has been to present, as far as possible, a continuous picture of her European sojourn, drawn by herself.  Were a faithful picture of its quiet yet varied scenes to be drawn by another hand, it would include features wholly omitted by her; features radiant with a light and beauty not of earth.  It would reflect a sweet patience, a heroic fortitude, a tender sympathy, a faith in God and an upholding, comforting influence, which in sharp exigencies the Christian wife and mother knows so well how to exercise, and which are inspired only by the Lord Jesus Himself.

The friend to whom the following letter was addressed years ago passed away from earth.  But her name is still enshrined in many hearts.  The story of her generous and affectionate kindness, as also that of her children, would fill a whole chapter.  “You will never know how we have loved and honored you all, straight through” wrote Mrs. Prentiss to one of them, many years later.

To Mrs. Charles W. Woolsey, Havre, July 11, 1858.

How many times during our voyage we had occasion to think of and thank you and yours, a dozen sheets like this would fail to tell you.  Of all your kind arrangements for our comfort not one failed of its object.  Whether the chair or my sacque had most admirers I do not know, but I can’t imagine how people ever get across the ocean without such consolations on the way.  As to the grapes they kept perfectly to the last day and proved delicious; the box then became a convenient receptacle for the children’s toys; while the cake-box has turned into a medicine-chest.  We had not so pleasant a voyage as is usual at this season, it being cold and rainy and foggy much of the time.  However, none of us suffered much from sea-sickness—­Mr.