Transcription:
2 me in one of your last letters you would like some seeds of the Fringed Gentian, the Harebell and water Lily, of the first
two I have succeeded in procuring a few seeds but as I could not get the Lily seed myself I selected Frank En. Brunt? and
Guy Whitney as boys that are oftener on the river than any other boys I know, but neither have brought me any seed Guy W.
says the seed stalks are under water in the Fall but thought he could get some in the spring. tell me how it is, as I do not
know how they mature their seed. I will send what I have, and perhaps I may get the others another time. What kind of a season
have you had in California? I think the past summer has been none of the most remarkable that has been experien- ced in a
long time, the heat and drouth in the early spring, and the hail storms later has made sad work of the crops in this part
of the country generaly we never saw such hail and the wind 3 blowing a perfect hurricane threw down fences unroofed houses
, Barn's and O the windows that were broken, while in the woods trees and branches were broken and scattered but in some places
much worse that others, but all this can bear no com- parison to the terrible loss of life and property caused by the fires
that have desolated such a large portion of the country surely nothing could show us more forcibly the utter insecurity of
all earthly possessions may we my dear Brother be enabled to lay up our treasure in heaven where it will be perfectly secure.
Decr 17th I find that nearly a month has passed since I commenced this letter I am sure I did want to send it off long ago
but I find so much to hurry me along day after day that my letter writing goes on slowly. It will soon be Christmas again,
another year will soon have passed over our heads since a part of our little band gathered around the long table, at the old
home. again the invitations