From H. W.
March 20. C. amused himself and us by making two or three of my children who were waiting for school read to him upside down, which they did as readily as the right way.
Just a year to-night since Mr. Philbrick spent his first night in this house. He has been telling us about it: a file of soldiers were drawn up at the gate and refused him admittance till his credentials were examined; now he is lord of the manor. I reminded the children to-night that a year ago they did not know their letters; now they are reading Hillard’s Second Reader for the second time.
The feat of reading upside down might seem to suggest that they were reading Hillard’s Second Reader for the second time chiefly by the aid of memory!
The next letter, written by Mr. Philbrick to a Northern correspondent, was printed at the time on a broadside, for distribution.