West 59 St., New York City. 
Dec. 51 1908. 
Dear Collins:' 
1 win a t least get a note written to you before hthe 
old year goes out, even if it does not reach you before the new onec 
comes in. I am as bus# as can be this week, since I am truing to get 
a little moss work done, to get the foreign exchanges made up, and to 
let mother see a little of the city in this neighborhood. She has 
not been down town any as yet, save to a concert last Saturday after¬ 
noon. That will have to come when she is more used to things. 
Thank you very much for the littlo remembrance in the pictures 
of that wonderful pp. squash vine. Did you send any of the copies to 
Capt. Crickett ? If ~ r ou did not I shall send one of them to himas 
a new year's reminder probably. He will think it a fine thing, T m 
am sure. _ I am glad too that you found the little book a 
pleasant reminder. . I had a good many chuckles over it myself. Id 
do not think that it ie as good as the earlier one about the flowers. 
Have you any moss that you can offer in the March issue 
of the Bryologist? I am asking that question of allthe people to 
whom.I write just now. and I b ope that I shall get enough favorable 
replies to make it oossible to have a decent list. If you have any 
species that have not been offered ' very much, they will be doubly ac¬ 
ceptable ... The coming year is really the last that I can put u 
upon such things for anyone, I have not the time to do any study 
myself, and my own collections get the go-by. I have at least 
6.packages here from other people waiting for attention, and when they 
will get it, the good lord only knows. 
At least I will try to go over them this vacatin 
and see what they look like. 
You see, tnere is a good deal of work to he done for the 
school in.the way of Math papers, and the directions for the Chemistry 
classes this year, and it cut in upon the time that I could otherwise'' 
put into Microscope. Now that mother is here, the spare time will 
go to her in a large par#. 
1 hope that all of you are well,and that your mother 
is feeling better, I heard that she was not well at all during the 
past autumn. Give to all, a most hearty "Happy New Year" from mofo 
mother and myself. 
Very cordially yours, 
& O 3 b (2s / <i'. ^ 
