
Our best & warmest thanks to you for your kindness in sending us the advance copy of "Good Bye My Fancy," which reached us by last mail!
As I was then overwhelmed with work I took the book at once to Wallace & he has had it ever since until today & tho' I am
still without opportunity for reading it—I have had a fearfully busy week—but I
could not let the mail go without sending you my personal thanks for your generous
gift which I shall prize very highly indeed & take time to absorb &
assimilate.
Meanwhile I take this opportunity of Congratulating you upon the successful
accomplishment of your life task—finis coronat
opus—& the Completion of your
"Carte-de-viste to posterity." It must be a great satisfaction to you to feel that you
have finished your work, & to us it is matter for congratulation &
gratitude that you have been permitted to do so.
On this, the eve of your 72nd birthday, my thoughts have been much with you, & I am longing to hear some news of you & how you are keeping. Better, I sincerely hope & trust, my good kind old friend.
I am looking forward to spending a pleasant afternoon tomorrow (Sunday 31st) with
Wallace & a few of the friends. It will be a sacred & blessed day with us, full
of tender & loving thoughts of you
I send you a copy of the Annandale Observer containing some verses suggested by my recent visit to my native place—
Now as time presses I must close, with kindest regards to all your household & with my heart's best love to you
Yours affectionately J. Johnston
