426 FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS. [1860,
not enjoy such visits, if I were not otherwise occupied. I have enjoyed very much my vis its to you, and my rides in your neighborhood, and am sorry that I cannot enjoy such things oftener; but life is short, and there are other things also to be done. I admit that you are more social than I am, and far more attentive to " the common courtesies of life ; " but this is partly for the reason that you have fewer or less exacting private pursuits.
Not to have written a note for a year is with me a very venial offense. I think that I do not correspond with any one so often as once in six months.
I have a faint recollection of your invitation referred to ; but I suppose that I had no new nor particular reason for declining, and so made no new statement. I have felt that you would be glad to see me almost whenever I got ready to come ; but I only offer myself as a rare vis itor, and a still rarer correspondent.
I am very busy, after my fashion, little as there is to show for it, and feel as if I could not spend many days nor dollars in traveling; for the shortest visit must have a fair margin to it, and the days thus affect the weeks, you know. Nevertheless, we cannot forego these luxuries altogether. You must not regard me as a regu lar diet, but at most only as acorns, which, too,
