
Thanks to you for your kind p.c & for your long & interesting letter both of which I received yesterday—
I am much grieved to hear of the death of your brother Jefferson which must have been a heavy blow to you & one which I am sure you would feel most acutely. On behalf of the friends here & myself I desire to tender you our sincere & heartfelt sympathy in your sore bereavement. May the Great Healer & Consoler pour His balm into your wounded heart & give you of his sweet Peace & Comfort!
I am also extremely sorry to hear of your continued indisposition & I hope that
by this time things have taken a more favourable turn with you & that your strong faith
& your vast store of long suffering patience, indomitable pluck and hopeful
joyousness may bear you through these "gloomy blue days" as they have done so often
before.
I received a good letter from Dr Bucke yesterday in which he gives me some professional details of your illness which were very welcome from a brother medico.
I am glad that you like & endorse my Notes & I thank you cordially for your kindly remarks concerning them—
It may interest you to know that "the boys" gave me a "surprise party" on the evening of Dec. 8th—my birthday—& presented me with a handsome "Literary machine"—a reading & writing stand—bearing a brass plate engraved "To John Johnston, Esq. M.D., 'Something for a token' From the Boys of the College. Bolton, Dec. 8th 1890."

After the presentation & speeches R K Greenhalgh consecrated the stand by reading aloud from it a Manifesto written by J. W. Wallace—characterised as a Chieftan's call to arms—rousing us to a sense of the value & importance of our little Society of Friends & urging upon us the necessity for strengthening the bonds of mutual manly love & true Comradeship & the cultivation of the Higher Self. The rest of the evening was spent in merriment—songs recitations & social converse—two original humourous songs about "the Doctor" being contributed by W. Dixon.
By this mail I am sending a parcel of Christmas literature for you & some of the
other members of your household; also a copy of this week's Bolton Journal containing a short paragraph anent a pleasant evening we
had at the Bolton Art Club when I gave the members & their friends an account of my
visit to you &c, & exhibited your photo & those I took in America upon a
10 ft screen.
I saw Fred. Wild last night. He sends his love & his sympathy to you & asked me to order a copy of the pocket book Edition of L. of G. for him. His address is—Mr Fred. Wild, 24, Arrowsmith Terrace Bolton, Lancashire, England. & I should be obliged if you would kindly send the book to him direct.
Many thanks to you for kindly sending Mr Johnstone's copy.
I shall have great pleasure in sending a copy of my Notes to each of the friends whose names & addresses you have kindly favoured me with.
With best love to you & kindest regards to all the members of your household & wishing you all a "Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!"
I remain yours affectionately J JohnstonP.S. I have just heard that J W W has recd Lippincott's Magazine from you