Cambridge Sept 13. 1872
Dear Mrs Gibbons
I thank you for remembering
my seventy-eighth birth-day, & the
more so as I suspect it was the
only place where it was remembered.
As I am not likely to have
many more, I had determined to
observe it myself, at least to the
extent of knowing that it had
come; but it slipped through my
fingers, & I did not know it had come
until it had gone. The summer
has been rather hard upon me;
hot as it has been, I have had
a cold for several weeks, & have
it still, I am not in very good
condition to make ready for the
winter. But come however as it
may, it will all be right.
I am sorry to tell you that
the [Grelby?] stock is just now at
a discount in our market. To be
sure Sumner has been put up as
a candidate for Governor; but alas!
he has lived to experience the ingratitude
of republics. While in
congress he hardly ever opened
his mouth except to plead for
our colored brethren, & now, as it
would seem, they have deserted him
almost to a man. Put not your
trust in Princes, or Cuffers, or Sambos.
I have just sent by Express
addressed to your husband, one
of your old baskets, filled with
an assortment of fruit now in
season, which [Miss Pendergast?] has
helped me to gather from the trees
in our garden. The pears are not
yet in eating order, but I have
found them to ripen better in the
house, than on the tree. My fruit
this year is generally abundant,
but of an inferior quality as you
will see; and I should not think
to send any of it to you, if I
did not hope that its coming from
an old friend would give it some
flavor. Indeed, I can hardly believe
that the poor little basket
will ever find its way done to 111 West
44th St. New York; but I hope
it will, & that it will find you well.
Miss Pendergast desires to be
remembered to you. With my best
regards to all, I remain
very sincerely yours
James Walker