"Do you realize what a benefactor you are in sending me, on this dull cloudy day, exquisites of the finest seasons of the year? Spring is months away, but I have had the sweetest glimpse of spring beside my winter fire. The blazing wood supplied the warmth,--and your fancy did the rest in reproducing June. "I am deeply in your debt. Draw on me for unlimited quantities of strawberries." "April 16, 1882. "I was determined to find you a four-leaf clover, and yesterday I succeeded. "It will bring you no end of good luck." "January 31, 1884. "Don't worry when you are not in writing condition. If needful you can drop a postal now and then. The best way is to come up Saturday night and have a talk. You need a little change and mountain air. "I am writing by this mail for Mr. and Mrs. Dielman to come at the same time. Why would it not be a good plan to get together and talk over the completion of the story and take a sleigh ride? "You have no idea how a little change freshens one up, and if you can spend Sunday and Monday we will all have a country frolic. I need one myself. I have been over-working and was very ill from nervous trouble for a few days. I went right to Nature, tramped and rode in the open air. So come Saturday by all means, for we all want to see you. "Beautiful red-pine grosbeaks are feeding about the piazza like chickens. With your powers you could go and pick them up." "December 13, 1884. "I should have written to you or seen you before, but I have been working hard to get the _St. Nicholas_ serial well advanced. "My heart is in the continuation of 'Nature's Serial.' Take the press generally, that book is being received remarkably well. I tell you frankly my aim now is to prepare one of the most beautiful books that has ever been published in this country. From what Dielman has said I have no doubt but that he'll go in with me. I also mentioned Mr. Frost to Alden and I shall also go see Mrs. Foote. It is possible she may be willing to take a part of the illustrations. "But I shall be heartbroken if you cannot take the part of Hamlet in the performance. If you will, you can make old Cro'nest and Storm King your monuments, and few will pass up or down the river without mentioning your name. "I shall begin to make my studies in January. In the meantime it will be a summer story, although I expect to close it at Christmas, and it will be full of just such material as suits your pencil. "I would like at least four illustrations for each number, as many full-paged as possible. "Mrs. Roe joins me in regards to Mrs. Gibson." "December 29, 1884.