p. 2

Gerrant Smith

My dear Mrs. Booth,

We rejoice in having the dear little volume of your poems! But where is "The Alpine Lovers"? How could you leave it out? And how could you change that dear "Jane Blair" for "Bell Blair"? I have heard that [sweet?] poem praised for the Jane & John, & I was very much provoked when I found that Bell had taken Janes' palce. It is one of the novelest poems that ever was written-a joy to me every time I speak it.

Father is in very good health-has just returned from a horseback