Letter from John Burroughs to James C. More

"RIVERBY" WEST PARK-ON-THE-HUDSON, N. Y. We left Roxbury last Wednesday. I came away much stronger than when I went there in mid July. I believe that a winter in Fla. or California will make me nearly well again. We may spend part of it in Washington, D. C. The most moving tribute I ever rec'd was that nature interlude in the [ ?] Pageant. It touched my heart & made me feel very humble. It was so much more beautiful & significant than I had expected to see, Ah, well aday! a man is not always without honor even in his own country. I find as I near the end of my life, that if one does faithfully & without any secondary or selfish motives, a worthy

"RIVERBY" WEST PARK-ON-THE-HUDSON, N.Y. work which his heart prompts him to do, he is sure of his reward in some form or other. I have loved the works of nature with undivided affection, & have done my best to share that love with my fellow men. Love is the only saving grace in this world of strife & war, any way, & I thank heaven for giving me a fair capacity for it. I count it great good luck that I met you again this summer - a real meeting this time I think, more so than ever before. May we meet again. If ever I again get as far West as Chicago, I shall surely run out to Polo. With greetings to your wife & daughter I am always faithfully & affectionally yours, John Burroughs

"RIVERBY' WEST PARK-ON-THE-HUDSON, N.Y. Oct 9, 1915 "Dear Cousin" You see I second your motion that we be cousins. Probably we are akin in the flesh, we certainly are so in mind & spirit. We were cradled with the same hills & they left their imprint on us both. I am glad you come back to them in your old age & promise to serve again next year. May I be there to see you, & to help finish naming our native mountains. By the way, I think we ought to preserve the name "Beaver Dam". It would be a good name for the mt, above Jacob Keatons farm.