Title:
Letter from John Muir to Mary [Muir Hand], 1884 Dec 31.
Creator:
John Muir
Publisher:
John Muir National Historic Site. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to
publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Contributor:
Mary [Muir Hand]
Date:
1884 Dec 31
2008
Type:
Text
Format:
Image/jpeg2000
Identifier:
muir05_0177-md-1
Source:
Original letter dimensions unknown.
Language:
eng
Coverage:
Martinez [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The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust.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:
2 In an hour the new year will begin and I mean to make a deparate effort to get fat enoug hto travel illegible it is half
done. I live on the fat of the land illegible getting fat - crackens claret a bird picking of fruit etc. but this year I'm
going back to the faith of my fathers. a poke of oatmeal a baggie of parritch bicket of brose? see which fat will come of
that. The new Year is coming near, illegible you is here already come hours ago I suppose you think more serious tremors?
should hold our attention. Your husband science for example, but that is too solemn The manufacture of illegible illegible
might make me forget to wish you all Happy New Year, make me remember rather the darkie porters explanation to an overland
passengers question as to the origin of some curious rockwork seen from the car window- A volcanic corruption of nature heavin
things up - The photographs of the little boys came safely are very interesting. I wish I had Wandas? to send you, but she
has not yet been from home. Good night, and New Year, here she comes May it bring more love joy to you all heaven be with
you. Ever affectionately your brother John Muir Martinez, Dec 31. 1884. My dear Highland Mary; The days go by? the years
until all of our lives spent together is now back in the Auld lang syne, but I'm coming soon next spring I hope. I had intended
making my visit this autumn after the grapes were fathered but many things prevented. It is only about two weeks since the
last of the grapes went to market, then I could not find anyone to take any charge of the place, and strange to tell I begin
to fear your winters zeros Both my feet were frozen on Mt. Shasta I am troubled with cold feet of course though in this case
I would not illegible a little nipping, but warm than that my bones are rather bare as compared with N.P. Willis I'm apt to
cough at times you might hear me coughing now on a good telephone, everything at this new year, coughing out the old, cough-
-ing in the new coughing from ear to ear from year to year nothing serious however only a illegible tickle