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Evening. I have been down to the old Town to Meeting again today; Rode Mr Keyes' Jennie, and had a fine ride. Mr Albert Smith preached for the last time for the present. He is just leaving now & probably will accept the H.M. Soc. Agency, in which case he will not return in Sept. It was also Communion this afternoon. When I went down before I did not go near the old place. Today noon I did, and hardly knew whether to laugh or cry. Inside it is simply a deserted house, and does not look much more than when I returned there last Summer, and found no Ettie there. But around the house! The Gardens , why you could not crowd your way through it. Weeds & every thing else, as thick as a mat six feet high all over it. A perfect tangle, flowers, vegetables & weeds just as thick as they can stand, in that rich soil striving for preeminence. You remember a little row of peach sprouts across the bottom of the garden two or three feet high maybe. They were never transplanted and there they stand close together, but Trees, 15 or 20 ft. high & covered with peaches! That great pear tree south of the house is as tall & vigorous as ever, but is hardly to be seen; it is only one mighty pyramid of grape vine, & well covered with largest of clusters. The way to the 'Cape of Good Rope?' is entirely blocked up with weeds & boughs. All round the house it is the same. Every window is shut up by thickest curtain of leaves. The Rose bushes are most mighty & multitudinous, but a perfect snarl with every thing else. The Trumpet Honeysuckles cover the roofs in their gorgeous pride. In the yard north & west of the house, is in parts a forest rather than a lawn It is astonishing to see the rapidity of vegetation in this country. Nothing has been pruned or dressed. You remember the Ailanthus Trees. They grow some. Their sprouts now cover half the yard, 10 or 12 ft. high.