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the return of Spring - is very lovely & has not
little here to excite, or interest him - I wish he had
your fondness for books, natural history etc -
I have spent a great part of the winter in the city
with Mrs Earmine, who has been very much afflicted
in the loss of two children. The youngest, a
daughter, died Chrsitmas eve, & Calvin the morning
after Christmas, They were buried together. Calvin
was a great sufferer, and In [illegible] you
would not have known him.
The lectures closed last week, my Father has [illegible]
unusually [illegible] this [illegible], and lost but one lecture
during the term. He is busy today cutting grafts to
send to Europe. He spends a good deal of time
in the same house with his plants, which are many
flourishing & many of them in full bloom. I made
two large boquets this morning of Roses, Camillias's
Azalia's, White Jasamine, Scarlet Geranium, [illegible]
They were for [illegible] to take to the city. - She has gone
in to attend a fancy party, & goes as country girl.
Carrie left the Seminary last fall, & has spent the
winter at home, her health is much [illegible] by the
changes. She Studies Some at home, & plays for
[illegible]. I always think of you, when she plays
your favorite pieces, & wish you could stop in, &
hear them, but you would find our home sadly,
changed, you would miss the "angel of our household"
[illegible] much land, & [illegible] [illegible]. I need not tell
you how lonely, & desolate I am without him. Tom
was with us long enough to [several illegible words in this sentence],
& how [illegible] attached to [illegible] his friends -
He often spoke of you, & of your kindness to
him when here, and anticipated much pleasure
in visiting you at the Nest.