
          afraid it is so, but don't you tell, or you may
 do me an injury. I mean to be young again,
 & to get a very rich wife! Then-- but no
 matter-- when the time comes, we shall see.


 Ah! my dear philosopher [probably Herbert Gray Torrey]-- will you
 listen to reason? Will your Greek & your
 latin & your mathematics-- stand me in
 any stead? The interview with "Edard"-- the
 label-writing-- the respectful "Sir" with which
 I am to be addressed, are all very inviting,
 (especially the last) but as you see, I must
 forego them, & I therefore pray you, as you 
 are strong, to be merciful.


 "Maggie [Margaret Antoinette Torrey] adds her beseeching & her love"--
 I dare say-- indeed-- & she could not write
 it herself? but must be lying on a sofa,
 forsooth-- when such a polygraph was in
 preparation! I tell you what Miss Maggie,
 I have loved you, a very little bit, but unless
 your poor eyes can be pleaded in excuse, 
 I am by no means sure, how I shall feel
 towards you, for the future. However,
 until I know how this may be, I allow
 you a very small share of the large package
 of love which I send, herewith, to be distributed
 amongst the signers of the Round-Robin,
 from Jno [John] Carey -- "The Veteran Naturalist."
        