Transcription:
Madison. Feb 24th. 1867. John Muir Esq. My Dear Friend. For sometime I have been intending to write you. Ever since my
Father's re- turn I have wanted to thank you for the beautiful present you sent me, Paradise Lost, which is among the best
of books With the Dollar you were so kind as to send, I did as you wished, and bought a bundle of candy for Albert Carr
one for the Griffen's another for the Pickards, one for the Sterlings, and some for myself, and my sisters; all thank you
very much. I was very glad to find you were so pleasantly situated but wish the little Lake City had more inducements to
bring you here. I have been reading the travels of Lewis Clark, the first explorers of our western country. I suppose that
if you had been with them you would have found a great many flowers, that they did not notice I carry Papers around every
night, which makes me strong.