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  My Dear Old Friend,

I have nothing particular to say but I cannot let the mail go without a word of greeting & cheer to you.

My loving salutation to you, dearest & best of Friends!

This is a glorious day here—warm, benignant sunshine & balmy zephyrs—the best we have had for weeks. I have just returned from a   long round of professional visits, had dinner & attended to my consultations in the surgery & snatch a few minutes of leisure while waiting for my horse, to write a few lines to you.

During the past few days you have been much in my mind & I keep wondering how you are keeping, hoping you are better & sometimes fearing that you may be worse & I anticipate the next news about you with some anxiety

 

This has been quite an eventful week for Wallace & me—a p.c. & magazine from you a letter from you (to J.W.W) & letters from Dr Bucke and Warry to JWW & a letter & parcel of magazines from H.L.T. to me all in one week!

This weekend (Whit-week) is a general holiday in Bolton—for everybody but the doctors!—& J.W.W is spending it quietly at home—(But there's my horse so I must stop a while—)

Later.

A sunless afternoon followed by a heavy   shower of rain which the thirsty vegetation has drunk up eagerly. Oh, how beautiful Nature now looks robed in her garmenture of fresh, transparent greenery in all varieties of tints!

Would that her resurrection from her hibernal sleep might be symbolical of your recovery from your long winter of depression & lethargy.

It pained me greatly to read in your letter to Wallace that you were at "a very low ebb" & I sincerely trust that by this time the waters have begun to "Come in again."

 

Dr Bucke says that he will probably be in England in June or July & that he will come & see us.

I need not say how glad we shall all be to see him & give him such a welcome as we can.

His visit will be something to be remembered by us all—

By the time you get this your Birthday will be over & we hope that you will be none the worse of the excitement attending it. (Probably glad it is over.)

 

Pardon this scrappy letter which is simply sent as a token of my loving sympathy and affection greeting

With kindest regards to all of your house & with best heart love to yourself

I remain Yours affectionately J Johnston

To Walt Whitman

P.S. I have sent a copy of the NE Mag, my "notes" & some of my "Whitman" photos to the Editor of the Review of Reviews

JJ