Transcription:
letterhead December 22 1898 My dear Mr Muir. The receipt of your kind letter of the illegible inst and of your beautiful
book has given me and all of mine great pleasure. We are glad to learn of your safe arrival at your sunny home, and the mountains
of California will be a continous source of delight to all of us. Reading the first chapter memories of the Old Long? Syne
with a flood of pleasant reminces were revived. The grandeur of the scenery of the old mountains, crapes? at Truckees illegible
, the deseend? of a starved ragged lot of young Eldorado seekers to the foot hills, the establishment of their camp under
the shade of the Douglas Oaks and sturdy Neet? pines (P. Sabiniana) on the banks of the Yuba River passed in review before
the minds eye. Sparks of the enthusisms were rekindled and feelings of the same pure delight called forth while reading these
pages, which filled the heart of the young fellow when he enjoyed fifty years ago and grand and novel beauties of the wonderland
opening before him. I thank you most hearthely for your illegible gift. Since you left here the weather has been 02520