Title:
Letter from Abbigail Allen to [John Muir], [1914 ?].
Creator:
Abbigail Allen
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:
[John Muir]
Date:
[1914 ?]
2008
Type:
Text
Format:
Image/jpeg2000
Identifier:
muir22_0856-md-1
Source:
Original letter dimensions unknown.
Language:
eng
Coverage:
[place unknown]
Rights:
Copyright status unknown
Some letters written to John Muir may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Transmission or reproduction
of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners.
Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Transcription:
1914? My good friend, It was very good of you to tell me of your well-being. And so I think of you in the Better Land not
the Promised Land that is being prepared for us, but the future without doubt is wisely hidden from us. I have thought of
my future so much that I feel it cannot be very far away and of my good boy that you speak so kindly of as my Ministering
Spirit, and to me it does not seem very far-fetched or very presuming to think and feel our ways are made for us and we need
not think our planning in advance is presuming on the Divine plans for us. We have a blind friend of Jessie's rooming here,
and she takes her meals with us generally. She reads much of the time, but in the raised letters for the blind. I have read
this morning's news to her, as she is greatly interested in the War news, and the news is now so startling it is enough to
drive one wild. Are you not satisfied that your lot was cast in this goodly land? Will not the good Creator put the ways and
means into his children's hands that good may come out of all these seeming ills? Maybe if we call it a goodly land long enough
and strong enough something may come of it anyway no harm can come of it. I sat down to tell you of the good tenants we have
secured after a long waiting a family did come and asked for the lower floor of this house, and we gladly said yes, with no
reservation only that we might keep the front parlor. It is a family of two boys and the boys are 14 and 13 years old; two
girls, soon to be young ladies. The mother, once a normal pupil, recognized the enlarged photo, and this drew her very closely
into our hearts and after two months as an inmate of our home she is nearer and dearer. All are very companionable and friendly.
Aunt Phi has returned from Alameda, so our rooms are all inhabited and we are quite satisfied. I tell you our family affairs,
knowing you will feel with us, knowing we are very comfortably housed. Our upper rooms are ample for our needs the outlook
is fine. The boys water the garden and mow the lawn, so we are relieved of this care. I thought I could never, without the
generous help of my good boy, work in the garden, but I did and the care so soon rewarded my watchful work that I very soon
felt thankful that I began my long watchful work. Mr. Muir, you asked if I ever had an oil likeness of Mr. Allen. No, I never
had an oil picture of him, and I am heartily grieved to say so. The only one we had other than the last photo was at our golden
wedding time, which was an excellent one. Miss Royce had it again retouched by the Artist Hill. He was very much pleased with
his efforts. Miss Royce left it in our care while she went on her vacation. She was afraid something might happen to it. She
found it safe, and it is still on our wall awaiting her call for it. I hope you may ere long come to see us all, and also
see this very good reprint. We should be overjoyed if your own was beside this think seriously of this. Mr. Muir, when will
tumult cease in this world that is so beautiful, but will long bear the scars of this wicked conflict? I am glad to tell you
that we are only a few left to tell the tale, but we are now three, as Aunt Phi is home again, for a short time, as Mr. Foote
and wife are living in San Jose, having sold their ranch and built a lovely new cottage, and Phi is invited to share it with
them whenever she so wills, and she wills it very often, indeed is quite at home there. It looks as though I had written
beyond my expectation. I hope you find time or inclination to respond. I hope one, or both of the dear girls will lend a hand
and surprise me with a truly letter. Anyway, accept my love and good wishes to that end. Faithfully yours, Abbigail Allen.
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