Transcription:
June 24th., 1903. Dear Miss Muir, Deer friend, Blessed woman that you are to be so rich as to spread out a shower of delight
and joy over this out home. I am sure you knew it when you dispatched the box with your luscious gift, and I thought that
the consciousness of such deed would bring warmth to your heart. I therefore was somewhat reconciled when I found myself unable
to sit up to the typewriter, and reluctant to write with a pencil when the use of crutches has drawn the muscles of the hands.
But I arrive today with the words that were spirited to you in the very hour when we opened the lid. Each cherry looked at
us a smiling, wellwishing countenance. We never knew them to be so good, so meaty, so firm. Little Roland had to learn anew
to segragate the stones as he was wont to slip them out of looscfle shed fruit. Let me tell you in a few words just how blessed
the day was on which your surprise came top us. An elderly lady, who never missed one single week to call ever since I am
a cripple, now past a year and a half, came with her usual bouquet and cheer I was looking over the pages of my only a choice
and well assorted bundle of which had been sent by a friend that very morning. A very good rolling chair, the gift of my only
brother gave me the comfort of being off the porch, an enjoyment I have not had for months and months. The good praye wife
timbered thr e runways for me and the chair to go over the backsteps. No nails were ever driven with more appreciation, nor
the butchering of woodblessed with more fervent good-wishes. And to fill the measure of welcome deeds and intensions, good
friends agreed to stay with me for a few days and try and 06213