CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 63 
at my own pleasurable laboring, but in commoner daily business 
transactions to which I regret to say, I like the rest of our kind must 
attend to from time to time. I am sorry to hear you speak of the 
misfortune your good parents have met with,’® and trust that now 
that affairs are at the lowest ebb, that a better tide will soon bring 
about you flowing with abundant relief. 
Your talked of Journeys to the Seaboard of Maryland, and to 
the Mountains of Vermont, would delight me greatly, but it would 
be next to impossible for me to leave home until my family have 
removed to our Country place, and for another month at least must 
I remain to assist and attend upon that movement. 
Have you heard from my friend John Bachman? He wiote to 
me for your address, and I sent it to him, as he said he was particu- 
larly anxious to form an acquaintance with a young friend of whom I 
continually spoke so very highly. What have you done in the way 
of quadrupeds and of birds? The Shrews and the Scalops are now 
out in numbers from their winter retreats and I try to become better 
acquainted with them, and their Habits than I am at present. I 
have a weasel alive, but what species of Mustela it is is more than I 
can yet tell. It began changing from white to brown on the 5th 
inst. and my memoranda about it will be a curiosity after a while. 
My son Victor is now at Philadelphia, and should you forward 
anything to the care of Mr. Chevalier I could receive them soon. 
Major LeConte, and Dr. Goldsmith, and us all at home often speak 
of you, and I should like of all things to spend a week or so with 
you, in, and about your beautiful and peaceful Carlisle. I am so 
much fatigued this evening after having tramped all day long the 
streets of our noisy city, that I must ask of you to excuse me for more 
at present than my Wishes for a good-night to both of us, and all 
those we honor and love, and to believe me ever your sincere friend, 
Joun J. Aupupon. 
Baird’s mother had been in Washington but returned 
with his Uncle Penrose and his cousins March 31. 
19 This refers to the depression in business and cessation of divi- 
dends by many stock companies in which the Baird family were 
interested. 
