Branchville, November 30, 1902

Julian Alden Weir to his friend, C.E.S. Wood:

I am indebted for two letters to you when it ought to be the reverse. I am at present struggling with a portrait which is coming on finely… Oh, how I wished for you again this fall to enjoy birds. We have had partridges or quail for supper every night since Nov. 1st and still there hang seasoning eight partridges and one quail. Today is the last of the shooting for this year. I have a good dog and have had plenty of fun after the day’s work generally stopping at 3:30 pm, and taking the dog and gun till dark…

I have not produced as much as you have been led to believe, but I think that the canvases I have have a more consistent truth. I have not changed in any way not even in the subjects chosen but it is my hope and desire to get close to Nature, to know her character more intimately, but I will be old, old, old before I can do even the little I do without her assistance. I hope to accomplish much this winter. I am in good shape after all my walks and climbing stone walls, and how many beautiful things I have seen in these tramps… I wish I could use a fairy wand and make you a neighbor when we could be together in the fine hunts when I try to bag nature even more than game…