My dear Calvin,

Your letter of the 28^th came last evening and we were glad to hear from you and the other members of the family. Some weeks ago, we met the Hills girls of Toronto at Mr. Sawyer's in Muscatine and they told us of your condition of health, but did not speak of Margaret's being under the weather. We are glad enough you are both well out of your trouble and are putting "a cheerful courage on." We conclude from what you say that your breakdown was caused by burning your candle at both ends. That thing is often done but never pays.

Your mother was not correctly informed when told that I had been to California. Last summer Payson Sawyer gave us a very urgent invitation to visit him and we went there on Oct 16^th. Hannah Varnum going along with us We staid [sic] in Muscatine 12 days and had a most enjoyable visit. On the way home Lucia spent a week with her brother in Tallinadge Ohio. Hannah is yet with the Sawyers.

Our cousin J. L. A. McQuesten is quite poorly. I saw him several weeks ago and then he was not looking well and was complaining. Three weeks ago he had an attack of grip and is in bed most of the time. I saw him today and consider him in a very bad way owing to his age, and for other reasons.

Tempus Fugit! We had no idea your brother Tom had finished his legal studies. It does not seem so very long since I saw him as a little boy at his mothers side speaking of himself and the girls as kids. That he may distinguish himself as a lawyer is the hope and expectation of his Yankee relatives.

As to photographs, I want Lucia to sit for one and hope she will before long. But the studios are up several flights of stairs and she is powerful lame and dreads the climbing. If she sits for hers I will for mine, and send samples. It made me laugh to read what you said about your uncle Calvin declining the Xmas invitation. Was there ever such another critter?

We were glad to hear the flattering things those Hills girls said concerning your prospects in the profession you have chosen. Wouldn't it astonish the people here about to hear a McQuesten preach in the "Squog" church. It would greatly please us if such a thing should transpire. The Bedford minister, a young man has lost an arm, got it injured fooling with some boys, and finally, to save his life, had it taken off.

Give my regards to that uncle of yours and caution him to avoid all kinds of impetuousness if he expects to be a second Methuselah, and remember us to all the family. We are always glad to hear from any of your family and hope you will prosper. World without end. Amen.

J. K. McQuesten