Meantime I keep up my spirits as I may.

I have incurred too many hardships and difficulties to be presumptuous or confident in success, and I have been too often and too wonderfully extricated from them to be despondent.
'I wish you saw this country.

I think the scenery would delight you.

At least it often brings to my recollection your glowing descriptions of your native country.

To me it has in a great measure the charm of novelty.