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My best thanks to you, my dear, good old friend for your most welcome p.c. of Dec. 23rd from which I was more than glad to learn that you were then in impr[damage] health. I have also received [cut away] good letter from Horace Traubel (written on Xmas day) in which he says that Christmas Eve found you in notably good trim & relieved from many of your discomforts of the past few months. This is indeed good news for me, for Mr Wallace & for all your friends here, who join me most heartily in congratulating you upon the improvement & in the earnest hope that it may continue—

I have given [damage]   kind message & they send you their love & best wishes.

Mr. Wallace has kindly sent me a copy of your p.c. to him. Thanks to you, too, for your kindness in sending the book to F.W. I have not yet seen him.

We have had two magnificent days here, thin frost, bright sun shine, blue skies, a slight fall of snow last night following a really fine sunset; luminous starlight nights. I have been longing for a vigorous tramp over the hills & fells, to taste the "caller air" & to enjoy the rural delights I love so well. But alas! I am chained to the town by inexorable duty—which you help me to do more than I can tell you—and sick folks are numerous at this time of the year—But my work has its compensations [damange]obably, nay, certainly, heightens my   enjoyment & appreciation of the beauty, the mystery & somewhat of the meaning of the shards of External Nature which you have opened my eyes to see.

Yesterday afternoon I had a walk through our Bolton Park where, save for the flute-like notes of a solitary blackbird and the cheery chirrups of a few sparrows, an ominous silence prevailed in the blackened leafless trees; & I fear that the six weeks' frost & snow have been fatal to a great many of our woodland songsters.

This afternoon I had an hour's skating & very exhilirating​ exhilarating​ was it to glide over the ice upon which the setting sun was gleaming, & reddening the faces of the skaters—

Jany 7th

This morning there was a dense fog & Jack Frost had ornamented our windows with his inimitably beautiful pr[damage]   & hung our hedges & trees with his white rime, transforming them into silver filagree work. The afternoon was beautifully fine & sunny & this evening the children's party I mentioned in a previous letter comes off. About 50 prettily dressed little boys & girls have just had "high tea," to which they have done ample justice, & the general jollification & juvenile revelry are now at their height. There are games, romps, dances, bon bons, crackers, Magic Lanterns, & mirthful fun of all sorts in which I have been participating & what is better, enjoying as much as the youngest of them!

Oh that you could come & join our merry throng, as "the Carpenter" came to old Elkanah Dyzer's place & see the gladsome "gales of glee" that sweep around that room. [damage] hear there re-echoing peals of laughter  & see the joyous faces of those happy hearted children from whom I have just escaped in order to finish this letter to you as the mail goes tonight!

With kindest regards to all the members of your household & with best heart love to yourself

I remain

Yours affectionately J Johnston