summer 1885

Brother and Sister's Friend -

"Sweet Land of Liberty" is a superfluous Carol till it concern ourselves - then it outrealms the Birds.

I saw the American Flag last Night in the shutting West, and I felt for every Exile.

I trust you are homesick. That is the sweetest courtesy we pay an absent friend. The Honey you went so far to seek, I trust too you obtain.

Though was there not an "Humbler" Bee?

"I will sail by thee alone, thou animated Torrid Zone."

Your Hollyhocks endow the House, making Art's inner Summer, never Treason to Nature's. Nature will be just closing her Picnic, when you return to America, but you will ride Home by Sunset, which is far better.

I am glad you cherish the Sea. We correspond, though I never met him.

I write in the midst of Sweet-Peas and by the side of Orioles, and could put my Hand on a Butterfly, only he withdraws.

Touch Shakespeare for me.

The Savior's only signature to the Letter he wrote to all mankind, was, A Stranger and ye took me in.

America.