Your last letter, dear Walt, that of 31st of January, is very cheering, it has quite set me up, and really I do not see why you should not go on for quite a while and have a middling good time especially when the pleasant weather comes. I feel more and more that you must get out in the spring and that the new leaves & flowers will be your best medicine. Ed Carpenter's piece is good, I have written him a line. I have still only looked into Sarrazin's piece. Am fairly stuck fast for time to do anything since the fire. I will gladly make an abstract of Sarrazin's piece but want to see Kennedy's and if that is sufficient there is no need of me doing it over again—we shall see. It seems as if the fire and matters arrising out of it will keep Gurd and self back still another week. [W]e have set now 18th inst. for our trip East. I trust it will not be delayed beyond that date. I am more than ever anxious to get on with the meter now as Traubel is out of a job and I want the meter to furnish him one [—] I have every confidence that it will do so. [—] We have glorious sleighing here now and I am enjoying it greatly, I get out every day about 4.30 till 6. and sometimes (in the way of business) get other drives. Today is charming [.] I should like to be out the whole of it! but I am on duty—no clergiman this morning so I had to preach! I am supposed to know every thing and do every thing and I just put a good face on it and get through the best I can.
Love to you R M Bucke