Title:
Letter from John Muir to [Katharine M. Graydon], 1880 Apr 12.
Creator:
John Muir
Publisher:
University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies
of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Contributor:
[Katharine M. Graydon]
Date:
1880 Apr 12
2008
Type:
Text
Format:
Image/jpeg2000
Identifier:
muir04_0114-md-1
Source:
Original letter dimensions: 33 x 21.5 cm.
Language:
eng
Coverage:
1419 Taylor St., San Francisco, [Calif]
Rights:
Copyrighted
The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust. To purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission
to publish or exhibit them, see
http://library.pacific.edu/ha/forms
Muir-Hanna Trust
1984
Transcription:
Original letter returned to Miss Katharine M. Graydon To Miss Katharine Merrill Graydon 1419 Taylor St., San Francisco,
Apr. 12th, 1880. My dear girl-woman, Katie and Miss Kate: Your letter of March 28th has reached me, telling how much loving
sympathy I am to have because I have a mother, and because of the story of my adoring circle of lady friends. Well, what is
to become of me when I tell you that I am to marry one of those friends the day after tomorrow? What sympathy will be left
the villain who has a mother and a wife also, and even a home and a circle, etc., and twice as muckle as a' that.But now,
even now, Katie, don't, don't withdraw your sympathy.You know that I never did demand pity for the storm-beatings and rock-beds
and the hunger and loneliness of all these years since you were a frail wee lass, for I have been very happy and strong through
it all - the happiest man I ever saw; but, nevertheless, I want to hold on to and love all my friends, for they are the most
precious of all my riches. I hope to see you all this year or next, and no amount of marrying will diminish the enjoyment
of meeting you again. And some of you will no doubt come to this side of the Continent, and then how happy I will be to welcome
you to a warm little home in the Contra Costa hills near the bay. I have been out of town for a week or two, and have not
seen much of Prof. Jordan and Mr. Gilbert. They are very busy about the fishes, crabs, clams, oysters, etc. Have called at
his hotel two or three times, and have had some good Moores and Merrill talks, but nothing short of a good long excursion
in the free wilderness would ever mix us as much as you seem to want. Now, my brave teacher lassie, good luck to you.Heaven
bless you, and believe me, Ever truly your friend, John Muir Envelope addressed Miss Kate Graydon, 232 N. Alabama St.,
Indianapolis, Ind.