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2 with the firm there, to invent a lot of new machinery - the hollow was so sequeatered and calm that I got along first
rate and before winter was done had accomplished far more than I expected, but about the first of last month we were awakened
near mid night and on looking over the pond saw that the mill was all afire, and in a few hours it was all burned, and all
the tools and machines too - It was a grand sight although so sad, the hollow was full of strong glaring light that gleamed
sparkled in the snow and made the tall elms maples cash deep heavy shadows upon the slanting hillsides all around ---------------
I was very sorry for my employers because they are good young men and could not well been so 3 great a boss I do not feel
dis- couraged about my machines being burned because I can invent some other ones, after the fire when the people said to
me Mr Muir, where are you going now? I said, I don't know - but in a few days I bade goodbye to the friends that I found and
went to Buffalo to see my brother Danie who works in a machine shop there, we enjoyed the visit exceedingly in talking of
friends and home, in examining the great foundries machine shops of that big town. Then I looked on a map thought that instead
of going directly home I would bear off to the left through the states of New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois I visited the
machine shops of Columbus Ohio, and other places of interest there and when I got to this town I thought I would stop Please
tell Mr Sterling that on account of the fire it is unlikely that I shall be able to attend the university. I am afraid my
boy that I have not written you a good letter It is full of business troubles and very unlike happy little illegible I have
almost forgotten how to speak to little people but will perhaps do better? illegible time JM