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for it occupies a good deal of my thoughts now. It is to be West of the Barn taking a part of three meadows and a corner of the pasture. There will be eight rows running East and West, and nineteen trees in a row. I intend to have a first rate orchard, with a large variety of the finest fruit (after the trees have had time to grow) I expect to go next week to Clinton to get the trees. - How backward the spring is! Last week Tuesday and Wednesday I was drawing stone on a sled from Thomas Thomas' place, up the "New Road." Happily by about 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon we got ourselves all drawn. At half past four it began to rain, and rained all Wednesday night and all day Thursday. The snow moved off as the night secedes at the approach of the sun. It was very fortunate that we got our stones drawn before the snow went off as it will enable us to get our building done, I think, at least a month earlier. This is one advantage to us from a tardy spring. Today for the first time this spring I saw some unclear in Steuban, although I had heard their notes over a week ago and saw them in Clinton nearly three weeks ago. Saturday I saw the first signs of green grass in our meadows. The snow has kept the earth so nicely from the front, that the grass will start with the slightest encouragement. The effect when spring does come in earnest, it will come very fast. You are so busy now I suppose you will be glad not to have a long letter to read. (The truth is I feel very dull this evening.) Your brother John P.S. What are you going to do this vacation? I am sorry the distance home is so great and the expense of traveling. Has Jane quite given up the thoughts of coming home? I hope your health is not poor, that keeps you so long without writing. Miss Colegrove says the seminary is a very bad place to rest in vacations - & that it is almost so bad as term time. I wish there was some place where you could go. If you stay there try to rest you as much as you can. We ought to be careful of our health for the sake of our parents and brothers and sisters as well as for our selves. Who can live for himself alone? John