Transcription:
Santa Barbara, July 17, '80. My dear Friend Muir, I sit down as I am just on the eve of going to town (3 miles) to say
to you a few days since I was at a neighbor's house, Mr. Eddy (President of one of our banks). In my conversation with Mrs.
Eddy your name came up. She said she had admired your course of life for 10 years, and read your productions with great interest
and wanted to see you. How, said she, you write to him to make you a visit and bring him to our house to stay with us (as
she is aware that my brother-in-law's quarters are rather small). We have carriages and horses to go about with and would
be delighted to have him make us a good long visit, and Mrs. M. of course. It has occurred to me that Mrs. Carr, as she wrote
me it was possible, would visit Santa Barbara this fall at the meeting of the teachers' institute. If you could be here at
the same time we would have a glorious old time. What say you? I have seen Mr. Eddy who has fully endorsed what Mrs. Eddy
wishes. Now if I can get in that lovely elaborate plan and get Mrs. Carr close by me we all will be within a short walk. Won't
I enjoy it. If you do come don't forget you are engaged, sir. Very truly yours, N. D. Stebbins. I write in haste with
a trembling hand. 338