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chard had devised。 But as I recall these outings they were not very joyous occasions； as Richard was extremely unhappy over his failures at school and greatly depressed about the prospects for the future。
He finished the college year at Swarthmore； but so unhappy had he been there that there was no thought in his mind or in that of his parents of his returning。 At that time my uncle； H。 Wilson Harding； was a professor at Lehigh University； and it was arranged that Richard should go to Bethlehem the following fall； live with his uncle； and continue his studies at Ulrich's Preparatory School； which made a specialty of preparing boys for Lehigh。 My uncle lived in a charming old house on Market Street in Bethlehem； quite near the Moravian settlement and across the river from the university and the iron mills。 He was a bachelor； but of a most gregarious and hospitable disposition； and Richard therefore found himself largely his own master； in a big； roomy house which was almost constantly filled with the most charming and cultivated people。 There my uncle and Richard； practically of about the same age so far as their viewpoint of life was concerned； kept open house； and if it had not been for the occasional qualms his innate hatred of mathematics caused him； I think my brother would have been completely happy。 Even studies no longer worried him particularly and he at once started in to make friendships； many of which lasted throughout his life。 As is usual with young men of seventeen； most of these men and women friends were several times Richard's age； but at the period Richard was a particularly precocious and amusing youth and a difference of a few decades made but little differencecertainly not to Richard。 Finley Peter Dunne once wrote of my brother that he 〃probably knew more waiters； generals； actors； and princes than any man who lived；〃 and I think it was during the first year of his life at Bethlehem that he began the foundation for the remarkable collection of friends； both as to numbers and variety； of which he died possessed。 Although a 〃prep；〃 he made many friends among the undergraduates of Lehigh。 He made friends with the friends of his uncle and many friends in both of the Bethlehems of which his uncle had probably never heard。 Even at that early age he counted among his intimates William W。 Thurston； who was president of the Bethlehem Iron Company； and J。 Davis Brodhead； one of Pennsylvania's most conspicuous Democratic congressmen and attorneys。 Those who knew him at that time can easily understand why Richard attracted men and women so much older than himself。 He was brimming over with physical health and animal spirits and took the keenest interest in every one he met and in everything that was going on about him。 And in the broadest sense he saw to it then； as he did throughout his life； that he always did his share。
During those early days at Bethlehem his letters to his family were full of his social activities； with occasional references to his work at school。 He was always going to dinners or dances； entertaining members of visiting theatrical companies； and on Friday night my mother usually received a telegram； saying that he would arrive the next day with a party of friends whom he had inadvertently asked to lunch and a matinee。 It was after one of these weekly visits that my mother wrote Richard the following：
Monday Night。 MY DARLING Boy：
You went off in such a hurry that it took my breath at the last。 You say coming down helps you。 It certainly does me。 It brings a real sunshine to Papa and me。 He was saying that to…day。 I gave Nolly a sort of holiday after her miseries last night。 We went down street and got Papa a present for our wedding day； a picture； after all； and then I took Miss Baker some tickets for a concert。 I saw her father who said he 〃must speak about my noble looking boy。〃 I always thought him a genius but now I think him a man of penetration as well。 Then Nolly and I went over to see the Russians。 But they are closely boxed up and not allowed to…day to see visitors。 So we came home cross and hungry。 All evening I have been writing business letters。
Papa has gone to a reception and Charley is hard at work at his desk。
I answered Mr。 Allen's letter this morning； dear； and told him you would talk to him。 When you do； dear； talk freely to him as to me。 You will not perhaps agree with all he says。 But your own thoughts will be healthier for bringing themas I might say； out of doors。 You saw how it was by coming down here。 Love of Christ is not a melancholy nor a morbid thing； dear love； but ought to make one more social and cheerful and alive。
I wish you could come home oftener。 Try and get ahead with lessons so that you can come oftener。 And when you feel as if prayer was a burden； stop praying and go out and try to put your Christianity into real action by doing some kindnesseven speaking in a friendly way to somebody。 Bring yourself into contact with new peoplenot John； Hugh； Uncle and Grandma； and try to act to them as Christ would have you act； and my word for it； you will go home with a new light on your own relations to Him and a new meaning for your prayers。 You remember the prayer 〃give me a great thought to refresh me。〃 I think you will find some great thoughts in human beingsthey will help you to understand yourself and God； when you try to help them God makes you happy my darling。
MAMA。
It was in this year that Richard enjoyed the thrill of seeing in print his first contribution to a periodical。 The date of this important event； important； at least； to my brother； was February 1； the fortunate publication was Judge； and the effusion was entitled 〃The Hat and Its Inmate。〃 Its purport was an overheard conversation between two young ladies at a matinee and the editors thought so well of it that for the privilege of printing the article they gave Richard a year's subscription to Judge。 His scrap…book of that time shows that in 1884 Life published a short burlesque on George W。 Cable's novel； 〃Dr。 Sevier；〃 and in the same year The Evening Post paid him 1。05 for an article about 〃The New Year at Lehigh。〃 It was also in the spring of 1884 that Richard published his first book； 〃The Adventures of My Freshman；〃 a neat little paper…covered volume including half a dozen of the short stories that had already appeared in The Lehigh Burr。 In writing in a copy of this book in later years； Richard said： 〃This is a copy of the first book of mine published。 My family paid to have it printed and finding no one else was buying it； bought up the entire edition。 Finding the first edition had gone so quickly； I urged them to finance a second one； and when they were unenthusiastic I was hurt。 Several years later when I found the entire edition in our attic； I understood their reluctance。 The reason the book did not sell is； I think； because some one must have read it。〃
In the summer of 1882 Richard went to Boston； and in the following letter unhesitatingly expressed his opinion of that city and its people。
BOSTON； Wednesday。
July 1882。 DEAR FAMILY：
I left Newport last night or rather this morning。 I stopped at Beverly and called on Dr。 Holmes。 He talked a great deal about mama and about a great many other things equally lovely in a very easy； charming way。 All I had to do was to listen and I was only too willing to do that。 We got along splendidly。 He asked me to stay to dinner but I refused with thanks； as I had only come to pay my respects and put off to Dr。 Bartol's。 Dr。 Holmes accompanied me to the depot and saw me safely off。 Of all the lovely men I ever saw Dr。 Bartol is the one。 He lives in a great； many roomed with as many gables； house。 Elizabethan； of course； with immense fireplaces； brass and dark woods； etchings and engravings； with the sea and rocks immediately under the window and the ocean stretching out for miles； lighthouses and more Elizabethan houses half hid on the bank； and ships and small boats pushing by within a hundred rods of the windows。 I stayed to dinner there and we had a very jolly time。 There were two other young men and another maiden besides Miss Bartol。 They talked p