c/o Whitehern, Hamilton, Ontario

My dear cousin Calvin,

The fine photo you sent about Xmas came in due time, and I know well enough it should have been acknowledged long ago, but I write less and less as the years accumulate, and it very likely will be the same with you some day. We are glad of the picture and think it fine, and we wish we had pictures of the girls and Tom.

I have one, made last winter in Concord, to go into a group. It looks old and cross, and is so, more or less.

Wife and I have lived through another year without much changes. She was not very well a good deal of the time last summer but became better as the heat of the season diminished. For the past three weeks we have both been under the weather with mild attacks of the grippe. Mine has held sway for a month. It is a visitation which deprives one of the kangaroo quality. Your hind legs don't execute their office. But we are better and hope never to have any more of it.

It may be of interest to you to know that our family monument in the cemetery is now a pretty good family record so far as our immediate line is concerned. From the immigrant Wm. down to my generation, the names and dates are on the stone. This was your grandfather's idea, and has been carried out to the letter.

The names of your great grandfather's 8 children with date of birth and death are all there. I doubt if another monument so inscribed can be found in Manchester.

Thus far this has been the mildest winter that any body can remember for these parts. There was a light coating of snow for a little while, but it was soon of no use in the city. There is none in the fields, and but little to be found in the woods. For two days last week the mercury was at 80 degrees on our south piazza.

There is nothing in the way of news from any relative. We occasionally hear from H. Varnum. She is getting along very well. People who know her see in her case an instance where a lady in middle life took up the responsibility of caring for herself and property, and has done it with courage and success, besides contributing of labor and funds to things which to her mind were worthy objects. Hannah is a good deal of a woman. The cousin, your father's cousin Eliza Hobson is now in her 92^nd year, and as far as we know quite well, but of course, frail.

I call on her once a year but have not seen her now for about that time.

I shall address this letter to you at Hamilton, not knowing your street and number at Toronto, should you be there, as doubtless you are.

Lucia joins in love and kind regards to all the family.

Very truly yours

J.K. McQuesten