
          paramount claims upon you,
 & as I know that you consider
 yourself a responsible being
 I am satisfied that you will
 acquit yourself of your debt
 to your own reputation, to 
 the world of Science & [to your
 Country. I will not for a 
 moment suppose that
 you can be a loser by completing 
 your work.


 Since I saw you I have
 lost many friends & among
 them a dear child, a son
 about 5 years old. Mrs. Boott
 has also lost her mother.


 Short has sent us a beautiful
 new Aster, which has been
 calle after him. I have rcd [received]
 a beautiful collection of
        