Transcription:
Martinez, Oct 8, 1899 My dear Johnson-- Your letter of Sep. 21 came just a few days before Mr Mrs Thompson I enjoyed their
visit very much because they have seen something. I still regret your not being on the Harriman trip. It was in every way
just the thing for you-more so than for anyone on board. Still I'm glad you passed safely through the hot killing days of
N. Y. with your family on Long Island. I am pegging away at the park forest Reservations which I hope to get off my hands
before the close of the year--Then I'm going to write the Yosemite book I promised you. After which I mean to take up Alaska--first
an account of my trip across the Muir Glacier that I promised you then a little book for Houghton Mifflin. By the way a great
many admirers of the dog story are urging me to have it brought out as a New Year's book for children. What do you think of
the plan. If the Century Company cares to publish it I ll review it send some illustrations-- I'm glad to hear Burroughs
is going to give you his sparrow impression of the N. wilderness--I cant help thinking they would have been better had he
made the trip 35 or 40 yrs. ago. Still they will be novel readable even at this late sundownn date-He made us lots of fun
on the trip--growled good naturedly all the way repeating over over again J. B. what a fool you are coming on this blank frost
business. He was subject to seasickness when he got to Dutch Harbor Onalaska propased to stay there until we returned from
the Behring Sea trip. I urged him to come on make the whole round icy excursion 07194