SALOME LEAKER.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sra,—Salome Leaker, mentioned in Mr. St. Loe Strachey's The Adventure of Living, was my great-aunt. After leaving sehool I lived with her in the country. She was then about seventy- eight, quite brilliant, taking great interest in her garden and housekeeping. It was my pleasure. to read to her in the evenings. My first book was David Copperfield. Aunt was very pleased with my reading, giving me the two volumes the same night. The next was Lorna Doone. We were both fond of it, as I remember reading it twice. We had our favourites. Aunt was very fond of The Antiquary, while I would like the Fair Maid of Perth. Vanity Fair and Pickwick Papers were also specials. I am sure the latter we could read by heart. Someone lent my aunt Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I was not supposed to read it, but my appetite was keen for books. I crept downstairs and read into the small hours. I then " put out the light " and made for the stairs in the dark. I could see Hydes galore, and before I reached the top our cat jumped from a window on to my back, giving me the worst fright I ever had.
We enjoyed our readings, and during our time together got through the following authors : Dickens, Thackeray, Sir Walter Scott, Shakespeare, Tennyson, Milton, Cowper, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, George Eliot, Stanley Weyman. and Seton Merriman. We also read the " Story of the Nations " series and the works of Josephus. To relieve me aunt would sometimes repeat " Locksley Hall," or Wordsworth's Wanderer," and many other beautiful things. She was never idle and was splendid company. Never a dull moment. She was a Churchwoman and was very fond of Wesley's hymns.
She was truly wonderful.—I am, Sir, &c., S. A.
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