[Lydia] Maria [Child] ALS to [Ellis Gray Loring], June 7, [1849 or 1850]

New York June 7'th.

Dear Friend,

I think of you all
often, and very affectionately; but the
sluggish monotony of my life affords
nothing to write about. I am alarmed
at my increasing indifference to all
mundane affairs. I do feel a little
scintillation of interest that the French
should be kept out of Italy; and I
have rather a desire that California
should prove fruitful in gold, that
the metal may become common
enough for the Distens and Herr
Dorn to have golden horns to play
upon. Music is among the Arts
what gold is among the metals,
and that soft, sunny, pliable

{written perpendicularly in the left margin}

Don't you expect Margaret Fuller will be elected Pope?

{end perpendicular writing}