566

Write often.

fresh green grass – without the
fragrant breath of orchard and
meadow – the "first appearance"
of the warblers and songsters,
and the warm south wind after
the rain. The [?] of an Ohio
[fog?] in early Spring is more
pleasant than any bird's song
I have heard in this desert.

But this land certainly has
the advantage in winter. We
have not been [compelled?] to
sit by the hearth and shiver
as you of the north have
done so long this winter; and
when the thermometer got
to [?] I thought all the time
it was about 20º above – and
could not believe it had been
so low till I asked to man at