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Portage, Oct. 20th, 1878. Dear John, I hope this will find you well. It seems a long time since I have had a letter from
you. Perhaps there is one on the way for me now. I am delighted with the bouquet from the banks of Loch Lomond - how very
kind of your friend to send it to you. We have also had the pleasure of a visit from Mr. Calvin Hewitt. He told us he had
been in Cal. and had met you in the Mariposa grove, and he gave me two very large cones, and two small ones that he said grew
on the largest trees. He wished to see David, but he had gone off on a week's visit. Last week I had a kind letter from my
sister's daughter, Mrs. Lunam. She is now a widow and lives in the same house with her daughter and has the old garden. She
sent me the likeness of her daughter and also one of Mr. Hay, my cousin, the architect in Liverpool, and also sent a piece
of thyme from the old garden. I enclose a sprig for you. Dear Joanna is still a sufferer, although she is slowly improving.
Mary is there at present on a visit at Racine. David has also been at Racine, and says that Joanna looked better than he expected
to see her. The rest of our friends are in their usual health. John Reid has been east on business, and in coming home he
went to see the Niagara Falls, and thence to Hamilton to see your father, and found him well and comfortable. He thought your
father looked the same as when he left Portage. Anna is teaching. Her school hours are from 9 until 4, so I have a very quiet
time. Margaret often calls for me to go out and ride with her, which is very pleasant. I think it is a great blessing that
your health continues good and that you so much enjoy the glorious and wonderful scenery that continually surrounds you. I
think very few can appreciate and understand the wonders of that part of the world as you do, and you have suffered a great
deal in your explorations. As yet we have not seen much about the new valley. Now, dear John, I hope you will be careful
about exposing yourself to danger. May God bless you and keep you, and be your protection in every trying time, and bring
you safely through, is the sincere prayer of your affectionate Mother.