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to Spring Brook. There after spending the morning in firing
salutes from an old Mill Crank. An hunting party was
organized and we started for the woods and spent the entire
day in loading and firing at every boject which possessed
animal life, and stealing straw berries

At the close of the day our trophies were 4 chipminks! wood
Pecker, 2 Bull Frogs & a wood chuck (Beat that you
Prairie hunters if you can) - In the evening we had grand
time out of a small collection of fire works & Turpentine Balls
which I carried out for the occasion - And when I went
to bed July 4th 1853 I could say I never spent one before
so pleasantly - I was very much amused at your
description of your fourth and I arrived at the conclusion that
the whole Kennicott family must be the most sociable most
united, happiest family in the world. excuse me for saying so
You speak as though you had heard bad stories of John and
ask what foundation there is for them - but indeed I cannot
answer you It is true John is changed. So have we all
changed. and if you were to come to B you would I fear
find John changed no more than any of us I know that I
have changed. I can see it in myself "I am not what
I was" Time and the world does not pass by and leave any
of us unchanged and sometimes when I look back I
am alarmed at the change which one year has wrought
within me - and so with all - all are changed
I have heard many stories in regard to John of the truth of
which I know nothing In fact I know no more of John than
you do. I have no personal knowledge in regard to him.
and you probably hear the same stories of him which I do
He & I speak in the street but farther than the merest com-
monalities, not a word has passed between us for most six
months. I have nothing against John and I
suppose he has nothing against me. but some way or other