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Martinez, California ,August 22, 1893. My Beloved Husband: Your beautiful letters three from Norway came yesterday,
while we were away among the green redwoods of Moraga Canyon, our only summer jaunt since the Erwins were here, and we enjoyed
it exceedingly. There were but few trees over a foot through, for a lumber-mill years ago destroyed all the glorious trees
that once had their home near this beautiful roadway to the sea; and the fierce fires that followed after only cleared the
way, alas, for a distressingly thrifty growth of poison oak among the fresh hazel wands. 0, but it must have been fine there
forty years ago We measured several charred rims of the old redwoods that were from twelve to sixteen feet in diameter but
those cruel argonauts never spared one for us to see. There are many young trees, however, that are beautiful, and in spite
of the poison oak a great many camping parties have visited there this summer. You should have seen how delighted Helen and
Wanda were: and today they are coaxing for another trip to the woods somewhere. Helen often says, I am just determined to
keep well and strong and grow all the time, so when my dear Papa comes home again he'll hot be afraid to take me with him
to all the fine places. Aunt Margaret seems to be pretty well again, and she did so enjoy your letters from Scotland, and
the lovely Scottish flowers How we all wish we could grow the beautiful heather-bells out here on our own California hills.
All the little flowers and ferns you sent looked fresh and bright when we first opened your letters. You say that you have
not heard from us since you left N.Y. This is strange, for we sent you 3 letters to Edinburgh. care David Douglass, before
you wrote for us to address them to London. Your letters, from the postmarks, have all been from 10 to 16 days on their way
to New York, between New York and Martinez only 5 days. Two volumes of Walter Scott's Diary from David Douglass were duly
received. William Keith has been giving to various reporters his views on Foreigh Art, but he has not explained the tremendous
speed of his journey between California and Europe. I mean to write to Mrs. Keith in a day or two. My eyes gave me great misery
for several weeks, but lately they are slowly improving. A letter of 8 pages from Sister Sarah Galloway has just come. She
staid 5 weeks nursing Annie Eastman, who was very slow in gaining strength. Sarah's new Grandson is a fine healthy baby. Grandma
Muir has been remarkably well this summer, and Annie was as well as usual. The others are all well. Affairs here at home
are going on tolerably well. I suppose you have seen in the papers about the great depression all over this country, and the
low prices for everything one wants to sell Grandma feels much better. Aunt Margaret and May have just been here. All well.
Faithfully yours ,Louie Muir