Transcription:
Rough draft of letter found in envelope dated Dec. 29, 1912 . Jan., 1913 . Charles Dwight Willard Dear Mr. Willard:
I treasure your noble letter as the best ofmy New Year blessings. I have been one of your many admirersfrom the first day
we met, and admiration has been growing ever greater as I saw how bravely you held on your way againstdeadly odds, digging
hard and deep for bed-rock foundations,making ladders out of disease and pain, climbing higher into thecalm heights of life,
like God's strong aspiring pine trees,going straight to the heavens, nourished by their own decaying branches andleaves. The
lesson of your life all should read, for in it there aresome of the finest and divinest things humanity has to show. Madeinto
a book it could not fail to awaken and encourage many poordrowsy, forespent wanderers on Life's hard roads. For, as Thoreau
well says, there are infinite degrees of life from that which is next to sleep and death to that which is ever awake and immortal.
To all who know you, Mr. Willard, you are a hero. I admire and love you, and with warmest enthusiasm congratulate you on the
victories you have won in these hard fought battles. May dear God guide and cheer and comfort you all the rest of your way
home to the world of Light, so devoutly prays Your friend, John Muir 06767V