pollywogs, or atheists--I don't know which it is. I believe they preach
mere morality, and read essays instead of sermons. I hope you go
regularly to church; and from what I have heard of Dr. Peewee, I respect
him very highly. Perhaps you had better make abstracts of his sermons,
and I can look over them some time when you come home.

"Speaking of religion, I must tell you a little story which Fanny told me
the other day. She was coming home from church with Mr. Dinks, and he
said to her, 'Miss Newt, what do you do when you go into church and put
your head down?' Fanny did not understand him, and asked him what he
meant. 'Why,' said he, 'when we go into church, you know, we all put our
heads down in front of the pew, or in our hands, for a little while, and
Dr. Maundy spreads his handkerchief on the desk and puts his face into it
for quite a long time. What do _you_ do?' he asked, in a really perplexed
way, Fanny says. 'Why,' said she, gravely, 'Mr. Dinks, it is to say a
short prayer.' 'Bless my soul!' said he; 'I never thought of that.'
'Why, what do you do, then?' asked Fanny, curiously. 'Well,' answered
Dinks, 'you know I think it's a capital thing to do; it's proper, and so
forth; but I never knew what people were really at when they did it; so I
always put my head into my hat and count ten. I find it comes to about
the same thing--I get through at the same time with other people.' He
isn't very bright, but he is a good-hearted fellow, and very gentlemanly,
and I am told he is very rich. Fanny laughs at him; but I think she likes
him very well. I wish you would find out whether Miss Wayne really is
engaged to him. Here I am at the very end of my paper. Take care of
yourself, my dear Abel, and remember the religion and the solid reading.

"Your affectionate mother,

"NANCY NEWT."