
How fares it with you, tonight? Better I hope. My heart is with you and I send you its best and warmest love.
I was very sorry to hear from Mrs Traubel that you
were going to lose your good, kind nurse Mrs Zeller
& I hope that the new arrangement will suit
[cut away] I have just received a
postal from your old friend, Rudolf Schmidt—in acknowledgement of the
facsimile—in which he says that he has known
you for twenty one years & signs himself
I read a long essay—an hour &
35 minutes long—upon you on the 11th to the
"Bolton Literary Society" & J.W.W.,
who has since read the M.S.,
pronounces it "an exceptionally good
paper." "Praise from Sir Hubert is praise indeed!" but I am not satisfied with it.
This has been quite a spring–like day here—after a long succession of dreary days—&
I heard a lark sing today though it was caged, in a back street. Poor little songster!
What longing it must have for its sweet liberty, the green fields, the pure air &
the blue sky! What a heartful of cheer it must have had to sing there at all!
My heart ached for it.
I hope you like your new bed & that you have better nights now than you used to have.
God bless you dearest & best of Earthly friends
My love to you now & always
Yours affectionately J. Johnston
