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  My Dear Old Friend

It is a cold wintry day here—a hard frost, with snow on the ground & occasional showers of snow flakes whirling & dancing in the air.

I have just finished my morning's round of visits, had dinner & seen the folk in the surgery & as   this is mail night I thought I would sit down & write a line or two to you, just to cheer you up a little in your sickness & your—perhaps—loneliness. For it must be lonely for you at times in spite of all the dear & kind friends near you, & I wish you to take this letter as a token of my continued & unchanged affection for you & of my   heartfelt sympathy in your illness.

You are much in my thoughts at all times & I long with a great inexpressible longing to help you But if I cannot help you I can at least love you & that will perhaps help you—who knows?

From the cables' silence we conclude that you are at least holding your own against that pros trating attack—and the Doctors! You'll "beat them" all yet!

Later

I had got thus far with my letter when I was called away to take in a box wh. had come by rail

Opening it I found it contained the Clay Head of yourself from Costelloe

I have hastily unpacked it & placed it upon my table where it now stands at my elbow and   seems to look at me as I write this & it dominates the whole room with its Homeric massiveness & rugged grandeur.

It is a great prize for the College & I am proud to be honoured by the custody of such a treasure—for of course I recognise no actual ownership in it. It is ours & I am its custodian.

But I must thank you for your great kindness in ordering it to be sent to us & this I do most cordially. It is a   noble gift & we will all value it very highly indeed

Thanks, & again thanks to you for it!

7p.m.

Wallace has been in to tea & to see the Head & has just left for home by train.

He too is delighted with it & sends his thanks to you with his love

I sincerely trust that you are keeping better & that we shall soon hear good news about you

With kindest regards to Warry Mrs D & Harry & with best love to yourself

I remain Yours affectionately J Johnston [1892]