You propose, Mrs. Carr, an exchange of thoughts, for which I thank you very sincerely. This will be a means of pleasure and improvement which I could not have hoped ever to have been possessed of, but then here is the difficulty: I feel I am altogether incapable of properly conducting a correspondence with one so much above me. We are, indeed, as you say, students in the same life school, but in very different classes. I am but an alpha novice in those sciences which you have studied and loved so long. If, however, you are willing in this to adopt the plan that our Saviour endeavored to beat into the stingy Israelites, _viz._, to “give, hoping for nothing again,” all will be well; and as long as your letters resemble this one before me, which you have just written, in genus, order, cohort, class, province, or kingdom, be assured that by way of reply you shall at least receive an honest “Thank you.” Tell Allie that Mr. Muir thanks him for his pretty flowers and would like to see him, also that I have a story for him which I shall tell some other time. Please remember me to my friends, and now, hoping to receive a letter from you at least _semi-occasionally_, I remain Yours with gratitude, JOHN MUIR. Address:-- Meaford P. O., County Grey, Canada West. April 3rd, [1867.] You have, of course, heard of my calamity. The sunshine and the winds are working in all the gardens of God, but _I_--I am lost. I am shut in darkness. My hard, toil-tempered muscles have disappeared, and I am feeble and tremulous as an ever-sick woman. Please tell the Butlers that their precious sympathy has reached me. I have read your “Stone Mason” with a great deal of pleasure. I send it with this and will write my thoughts upon it when I can. My friends here are kind beyond what I can tell and do much to shorten my immense blank days. I send no apology for so doleful a note because I feel, Mrs. Carr, that you will appreciate my feelings. Most cordially, J. MUIR. Sunday, April 6th, [1867.] Your precious letter of the 15th reached me last night. By accident it was nearly lost. I cannot tell you, Mrs. Carr, how much I appreciate your sympathy and all of these kind thoughts of cheer and substantial consolation which you have stored for me in this letter. I am much better than when I wrote you; can now sit up about all day and in a room partly lighted. Your Doctor says, “The aqueous humor may be restored.” How? By nature or by art? The position of my wound will be seen in this figure. [Illustration: Nat. size of wound. Outer side right eye.]