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Lufkin Texas Feb 15-1913 John Muir Martinez Cal Dear Friend John Today is my birthday. I now finish my 79th year. I
came late this season to my winter home, arriving on the Jan 23d. After arriving I saw a prospectus of the Atlantic Monthly
for 1913, in which you were were prominently advertised as a contributor. I subscribed, tho I had already a big stock of of
reading. The Jan number came two weeks ago, the Feb number about a week ago. With other good articles yours, In the Wilderness
and Out of the Wilderness, were read with uncommon pleasure. On two separate evenings I read them to my 3 grandsons, the oldest
being 12 years of age. I did not require to call for attention, they gave it. parents also were particularly attentive. I
am sending for the Nov Dec No's so as to have the whole. These reminiscences bring back so vividly our old table talks, and
evening chats, wtih yourself and Dan, and occasionally David Galloway. There was plain hearty homespun style with some lively
wit, for Scotch and half Scotch, and abundance of good nature. I tell you those days in the hollow were not hollow days.
I have no small anxiety at present regarding my son who this summer past has met his ill luck, if such a phrase is allowable.
In the first week of last July his house burned with scarce anything saved; but unlike our Old Mill fire he was insured. Imediately
after getting ready to rebuild he got malarial fever in an aggravated form, which with indifferent medical treatment, and
the consequent complications from it, leaves him still an invalid. There has been two periods for a few weeks when he attended
to business 4 or 5 hours per day, and some business was attended to at the house, but several times his condition has been
dangerous, and his restoration to good health seems still uncertain. He has a fine house one of the best in our town, designed
by a 05376