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1 Martinez, California. Nov. 15, 1898 My dear husband Your two letters of Nov. 6th from Osborne's came just this afternoon.
8 days from the date of the postmark, and those beautiful ferns were 11 days on the way, all owing I suppose to the tunnel
fire and blockade. The ferns and moss looked pretty fresh though, so I planted them carefully in fresh leaf mold from the
hill, and so perhaps they will live. Your racing journeys both north and south are a continual surprise to us slow going
folk. Only flying birds could follow you, and think that even they would be bothered over so many migrations over 02503
2 within two months The only thing however that had worried us has been the danger of your traveling so near those southern
fever-regions. We do hope that you will not take a fancy to go to Havana or Santiago until they have had years of fiery disinfection.
Tell Prof. Sargent we are grateful for his good care of you so far, and we trust to him to keep you away from all dangerous
lands. Tell him that if he can also rescue that glorious magnolia from its present tribulation, we shall believe him one
of the very best men in the world. I wonder if you have seen any of the great trees near the rivers, in full bloom. Did you
write any notes about 02503