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To Mrs. Muir Sitka, On board the California, Aug. 10th, 1880 10:30 P.M. of your time. My own dear Louie; I'm now
about as far from you as I will be this year---onlythis wee sail to the North and then to thee, my lassie. And I'm not away
at all you know, for only they who do not love may ever be apart. There is no true separation for those whose hearts and souls
are together. So much for love and philosophy. And now I must trace you my way since leaving Nanaimo. We sailed smoothly
through the thousand evergreen isles, and arrived at Fort Wrangele at 4:30 A.M. on the 8th. Left Wrangele at noon of the same
day and arrived here on the 9th at 6 A.M. Spent the day in friendly greetings and saunterings. Found Mr. Vanderbilt and his
wife and Johnnie and, not every way least, though last, little Annie, who is grown in stature and grace and beauty since last
I kissed her. Today Mr. Vanderbilt kindly took myself and Mr. Magee and three other fellow passengers on an excursion on
his steamer up Peril Strait, about fifty miles.(You can find it on one of the charts that I forgot to bring).We returned to
the California about half-past nine, completing my way thus far. And now for my future plans. The California sails tomorrow
afternoon some time for Fort Wrangele and I mean to return on her and from there set out onmy canoe trip. I do not expect
to be detained at Wrangele inasmuch as I saw Mr. S. Hall Young, who promised to have a canoe and crew ready. I mean to keep
close along the mainland, exploring the deep inlets in turn, at least as far north as the Taku, then push across to Cross
Sound and follow the northern shore,examining the glaciers that crowd into the deep inlet that puts back northward from near
the south extremity of the Sound, where I was last year. Thence I mean to return eastward along the southern shore of the
Sound to Chatham Strait,turn southward down the west shore of the Strait to Peril Strait, and follow this Strait to Sitka,
where I shall take the California. Possibly, however, I may, should I not be pushed for time, return to Wrangele. Mr. Magee
will, I think, go with me, though very unwilling to do so. Aug. 11th, at noon I have just returned from a visit to the
Jamestown. The Commander, Beardslee, paid me a visit here last evening, and invited me aboard his ship. Had a pleasant chat,
and an invitation to make the Jamestown my home while here. I also found my friend Koshoto, the Chief of the Hoonas, the
man who,I told you, had entertained Mr. Young and me so well last year on Gross Sound, and who made so good a speech. He is
here trading, and seemed greatly pleased to learn that I was going to pay him another visit; said that meeting me was like
meeting his own brother who was dead, his heart felt good, etc.... I have been learning all about the death of the brave
and good old Toyatte. I think that Dr. Corliss, one of the Wrangele missi onaries, made amistake in reference to the seizure
of some whisky, which caused the beginning of the trouble. Heaven bless you, my wife. I will write again from Fort Wrangel
tomorrow. Love to mother and father. Remember me to Mrs. Hatch---hope she is recovering health in the invigoratingair of the
Sierras. For a little while again, Farewell, John Muir. Everybody enquires first on seeing me, Have you brought your
wife? and then, Have you a photograph? and then pass condemnation for coming alone My hair is frizzly, evenly all over like
the hair of certain dogs -- some trick you played on it. It will not down. The mail is about to close, and I must write to
mother. Affectionately your husband, John Muir How eagerly I shall look for news when I reach Fort Wrangele next month.
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