
          As my prescriptions have been thus 
far attended with benefit I get what 
falls to most practitioners in the early 
days of their career, lots of gratitude. 
Were it not for the uncertain conditions 
of things entirely without our control 
I should be quite contented. As it is I 
hope all will result favorably. I hope 
you will not speak of what I have 
written of the troubles except to my 
particular friends. You may imagine 
from the amount of work I have on 
hand that I have not been able 
to collect very largely. Indeed until 
just now there has not been much 
that was very desirable. I took a 
tramp today & found several things that 
I never saw growing before. Hydrastis, 
Viola canadensis & rostrata, Cypripedium 
pubescens, Smilacina trifolia, 
Dicentra canadensis, Phlox, probably 
divaricata, &c. I forgot in speaking 
of the unpleasant features to state 
that the boys here, with I believe one 
single exception, are Republicans of 
the blackest kind. They have a Tribune 
Club & that mischievous sheet is sapping 
the youthful mind with its disunion 
doctrines. You would have been amused 
        