Letter from Helen [Hunt] Jackson to John Muir, 1885 Jun 20.

H.H. diedBug,12, 1885in S.F.1600 Taylor St.,San Francisco, June 20, 1885.Dear Mr. Muir,If nothing else comes of my camping air castle, I have had at least one pleasure from it -- your kind and delightful letter. I have read it so many times I half know it. I wish Mrs. Carr were here that I might triumph over her. She wrote me that I might as well ask one of the angels of Heaven, as John Muir so entirely out of his line was the thing I proposed to do. I knew better, however, and I was right. You are the only man in California who could tell me just what I needed to know about ranges of climate, dryness, heat, etc., also roads.You have already ruled out my first plan-- i.e. the skirmishing along the middle Sierra foothills. I am drawn towards Truckee and the Lake Tahoe region by what you say, but I fear that altitude. It is of the too little oxygen and the nerve strain of 6000 ft. up in my Colorado home, that I have been breaking down for years, getting ready for this attack.Now, tell me a little more in detail about the Shasta region and the redwood district in the Coast Range. Of the latter I know nothing.For your better convenience I will make a memorandum on a separate sheet of the points I need to know.I am nothing angered or astonished at your sarcastic phrases about my spokes and spooks , and wheels and pans . I only wonder at your gentleness, confronted by an array so repugnant to you. I trust you may never have to be so dependent -- perhaps you do not know that last year I broke my leg? and have not for ten months stepped without crutches -- this in addition to the utter exhaustion of the eighteen weeks\u27 illness, makes me helpless indeed. If you had got to go into the woods, flat on your back on a bed in an ambulance, or not at all, wouldn\u27t you take kindly to spokes ?, and if your life (apparently) depended on strong broths and gruels, wouldn\u27t you take along a good cook and his pans ? If you were to see me you would only wonder that I have courage to even dream of such an expedition. I am not at all sure it is not of the madness which the gods are said to send on those whom they wish to destroy.They tell me Martinez is only twenty miles away. Do you never come into town? The regret I should weakly feel at having you see the remains (ghastly but inimitable word) of me, would, I think, be small in comparison with the pleasure I should feel in seeing you. I am much too weak to see strangers -- but it is long since you were a stranger.Yours sincerely,Helen Jackson.1st -- the redwood region of the Coast Range -- what elevations could I hit there, combined with moisture and forests? How much moisture? waterfalls? streams? How long a range would I have? I want to keep moving; go over as much ground as possible, not over two days or one in any place. Can you suggest places or routes, for this region? Would I have to begin the journey by rail? or could I start from this door on my bed?2nd -- the Shasta region. How many hours from here by rail to Redding? Do they have Pullman sleepers on that road? You say from Redding to Strawberry Valley is an easy grade, some fifty miles . What would that fifty miles be like? hot? dusty? It would mean three days journey for me. The horses will have to walk. And Strawberry Valley (delicious name) - when I reach that am I among forests and streams? The hundred mile orbit around Shasta , is that plains or foothills? I have fancied Shasta arising sharply like a pyramid from a plain.Can you give me a list of points, roads, places in this orbit? , bearing in mind always that what I most need is moisture, what I simply cannot endure is dry heat; dust also is dangerous to me -- a forest, and a dashing stream are my needs.3rd -- The Lake Tahoe region -- why do you call that moist and leafy? I was there at the Tahoe House once, a week -- it was glorious but it was dry and no trees but thin pines as I recollect. The sun blazed like Sahara, every day. We did not explore, only rowed on the lake. It was fourteen years ago. Are there roads all round the lake. Would the prevailing altitude be 6000 ft

Letter from Henry Randall to John Muir, 1902 Mar 9.

[4]We only made five mills and the next day [arrive?] into the Valley and up to Hutching Hotel and how you hired me out to do the milking and to drive the oxen and I had never done either and I was so scared when you made the contrack that I dare not open my mouth but you said to me you can do it all right its nothing but I guess it was luckey for me that J M. went to Washington that winter. I can rember about Mrs [Sprat?] saying to me one morning after I had milked, that [buttercup?] did not give so much milk as she did when Billy milked her. and those oxen Paddy & Duke do you remember them Well I did not think I could Ever joke and drive them but I [did?] and milked too[1]Worcester MassachusettsMarch 9th 1902My dear John MuirI was extremely pleased to receive your second letter and to get so clear a description of your life and travels. it also pleased me to have you say you had not written as long a letter to any one in a long time for I had somehow gotten the idea that you had forgotten me but I see your memory is good and your letter brings our partnership days very clearly I never should forget them but what troubles me now and always has is that I did not know how to apreciate you and your teachings more. and it seems to me now that If I could have the same chance I could Improve on my past life in some respects02960 [2]You asked me for a more complete history of my past life since I left California I only wish I could give you as glowing account of myself as you have me of yours but I cant. As I wrote you in my first letter that after leaving Cal I came direct home to Rhode Island My native state I Staid with my Father about three weeks and then got a Situation for the man I am working for now and I have worked steady for thirty years with only the accostomed vacation so you see I cannot give you much more for you know what it is to work for someone. but I think in one respect I must of gotten the [start?] of you I think I got married before you did and your last letter revealed the fact that you were married but I had told all of my family when speaking[3]of you that I did think you would never get married but it seems you did have one weak spot and I am glad to hear it for that completes you as a man You must remember John that I was quite young when we were in the valley and that must excuse me for not appreciating your teachings more but you will I think give me credit for having some [sense?] to follow you and old mountaineers travels from off the plains for seven days. do you remember what a beautiful day it was the morning we left Deloneys ranch for the Yosemite and how it snowed when we were about five days out and how you and I staid in that . coffin and on the next day [8]to go to California and he wants to travel I wish you could take him on one of your travels he has got lots of [sand?] and can stand hardship as well as you and I and is a good boy I do not work as hard as I have in the past I could of been a partner but id not want it although he has made money all the time but I did not have the courage you know John my education was lacking and I thought I had better be free although he would go away for months at a time and I had full charge and everything would be all right when he would return. he has seven stores here in Worcester and I am at the head and as I say I get good pay own my house and a farm I keep a driving horse and we get about all there is to live for[5]How plain I can see all of those faces as I read them in your letter but it seems sad about [illegible] poor girl I used to feel sorry for her she would beg so hard for me to give her something to eat and she would open her mouth and I would milk into it and somehow her mother would find it out I would like to see G[illegible] Keney and have often thought I would take a trip out there and see you all J M [H?] has best you and I [go?] and with the 4th wife. but I am not surprised to learn that his first wife (Al[illegible]a) got a divorce from him for they were ill mated I always liked her only that laws of health that she practiced on herself and on Casy & [illegible]oy I never liked to see anything hungry and you know they were often02960 [6]Yes John I do remember the sunday morning that you and I took the trip up the mountain and down to the [illegible]al [illegible]il falls and reached them just as the sun set and I have often thought that in getting back into the valley that we went in places where if we could of seen it in daylight we would not of gone You always asked me when we were about to start on a tramp if I had tobacco enough to last me you said you did not want me to get short of that as it made me cross & disagreeable and I guess you were right, and another thing I remember about that tramp was that the Ends of my fingers were worn through so they bled. from feeling our way and letting myself down those granite boulders I remember how sore they were when I milked that morning[7]You say in your last that If I had staid with you you think you might of pushed me a little father along that may be and that is what I wanted someone to push me for you know I was thrown on my own resources from the age of [thirteen?] never knew what a mothers care was and although I had a good Father he could not take a mothers place but dont you think John that you can look back better than you can look ahead for as you say our fate none can foresee but I think I have done as well as the average but have had to work hard I have a good house & wife and boy & girl we never have lost any children and have got some money and have about everything we want Girl married boy I am afraid will be. by the way he wants [9]But I would like to go out to California and see you and you know I like to hunt I have got a good outfit and my son and I go once a year I dont suppose you ever will come this way but if you should or any of your family dont fail to look me up as you say I am well known here and above all dont fail to drop me a line as often as you can for I have had nothing that has done me as much good as it did to get your letters With my best respect for you and familyI am as every your friendHenry Randall#544 Pleasant StWorcester Mass02960 [10]I send to you in the mail for Photograph myself wifeBoygir

Letter from Mary to Family- March 29, 1925

This letter was written by Mary to her family during the spring of her Freshman year of college. The letter is comprised of 7 sheets of pink paper, with handwriting in blue ink on on side of each sheet. On the back of the final page, there is a note added in pencil. In this letter, Mary writes about receiving flowers from home, deciding against purchasing a hat, college expenses, buying music for her vocal lessons, and plans for her parents to visit her on campus. She also reminds her father that she expects answers to questions she had asked him about his church\u27s Daily Vacation Bible School (D.V.B.S.). Transcription: Sun. Mar 29. Dear Family— Have been laughing so hard this afternoon. Just came up from one of the girls room. Have been there since dinner and it is now 2:30. We have had marvelous weather this last week - but today the sun isn’t out and it’s actually cold and snowing! Couldn’t imagine what was in the box when it came. The flowers are beautiful. They weren’t a bit wilted or crushed. The hyacynth wasn’t crushed at all but the florist moss had stolen all of its odor. It certainly made a lovely boquet. I am sitting up in bed. Have a clean pair of P.J’s on. —Am anxious to get my laundry as usual. Before you had written saying (in your last letter) that I had better not get a hat-I had already decided I wouldn’t.- so had my green hat cleaned last week & it looks fine .- also had my grey & white dress cleaned Had two pairs of shoes repaired which alone cost 3:00. Then the cleaning bill was 4.25 So you see it amounted to 7.25. How money does go - and not unnecessarily .- Have all my college bills paid and counting all the money I have left - it amounts to $44.00. I have to buy music all the time. Miss Arnold has begun me on some English pieces- that is some of Mendelsans short selections. They are pretty. I find reading quite difficult. Would be nice if you wrote Agnes Fayes. Also, Boots says neither you nor Esther have answered her letters. Did you get Jean’s letter. She says she hasn’t heard from you. Glad you can know some of the girls in a personal way before you come. - Dad - you said something about getting to 3 Wooster on the 15th (Wed). If you could get here the 14th (Tue) I could get you to talk in Student Volunteers. For many reasons would it be fine if you could do that. Wish you would write and tell me just when. Hope it is a Tuesday. I thought mother could come May 14 - you said something about having a missionary meeting then. I do want mother to be here the 15th (Fri) She can visit a “lit” and (Sat) 16th is May day. It would be fine if she could come about (Wed) 13th and stay till the following Tue or Wed. I want her to live here about a week - to understand all that is ours & get every phase of our college life. There will be many many strangers in Wooster over the weekend - people from miles around come here for May day besides all the alumni & students friends. - So in order to see Wooster as it is to us all the time she’ll have to stay 4 the first part of the following week at least and while she is here (she might not get here again) I want her to get it all. It’s too long a trip to stay only a few days when it would be possible to stay longer. Hope you plan now-. I certainly am planning and have made Dorm. reservations for that weekend - as we have to early - there will be so many here. I am so anxious to have a talk with you, Dad. Hope that nothing keeps you from coming here on your trip & I can easily get a cheap bunk for you over at the Lodge - That is Mandy is in the 5th section (section of future missionary & ministers) & he would be only too glad to take you in. You would 5value very much talking to these fellows. I certainly hope you plan to stay over night here. There are so many things to talk about. When I was home, we didn’t have a chance to talk about my college affairs & you will be here amidst them & there will be so much to tell you & it will help me so much. I need it strength & understanding - advice & help — I just threw the ink bottle over to Boots. She caught it. ———— ———— Will probably add more. Much Love Bean. 6. After C.E. now! Paul & I went to church. He has quit dancing thru my influence - he says. He is certainly a good fellow at heart. Dad, remember that letter I wrote you which was nothing but questions concerning your D.V.B.S. you haven’t mentioned any things about that - and I certainly would like to know - couldn’t you send statistics as soon as possible or bring them with you when you come to Wooster. What I want to know is as much about last yrs D.V.B.S. work as possible. I haven’t a thing to start on. Performed my first operation last Fri. Mandy asked Boots & I over to the embryology lab to see some chick embryos - We got 4 good eggs out of 9. I opened one of them. It certainly is wonderful - to see the heart beat after it is out of the egg even for 1/2 . 7. Then we went to the convent. Another fellow there walked with Boots & Mandy walked with me. Mandy & I had a wonderful talk. He is such a fine fellow & engaged - Have decided not to have any more dates with Not because of anything he has said or done in my presence. Asked the advice of 2 upper class girls & Mandy. Must stop now. It’s late— Solution of Christianity including Mrs Dotsons Chaple Tuesday after Easterhttps://openworks.wooster.edu/marybehner_papers/1034/thumbnail.jp

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated March 12, 1945

[Transcription begins] MON. 12 Mar 45 Dear Folks, I hope I get a letter from you on tonights mail. It has been over a week since I have heard from you. Dot’s letter thanking me for the birthday box was the last I received. I hope nothing is wrong. We did get tickets for the Ballet Saturday night and it was very enjoyable. They were topnotch performers. Five dancers – 3 women and 2 men – and two pianists. There were eleven of us went in together and at first she had only three tickets, then the telephone kept ringing with more people turning in their tickets until finally nine of us got a chance to go and I imagine the other two might have but got discouraged and left. Unfortunately that is the last Community Concert this season. I shall miss them. Yesterday I was on C. Q. at the office but I had been here only a short time when Capt Poslik who was on duty said that I might go back to the barracks as he was going to be around to take any calls and to get the mail. I got back to the barracks in time for Mail Call and to meet some of the girls going to church so I went to the 1st Area Chapel. The Chaplain was fairly good but I do not seem to get as much out of the chapel service as I do when I go in town to church. The Chapel service is conducted exactly the same as any protestant church but it may be the unfished [unfinished?] building or something I don’t know. In the afternoon, I took a nap and then Crockett and Iris Cook and I went walking in Ocmulgee National Park. This park is almost in to Macon but we’ve never before taken time to get of[f] the bus and walk in to see what it was like. It is one of the regular National Park Series with nice roads, paths, and parking lots. There is a museum of Indian relics. They have the only extinct preserved earth mound lodge. This is about five hundred years old and is a council chamber circular in shape with huge oak beams and pineroof with bamboo on top of the pine then clay and earth on top of that. Outside it looks like any hill. The walls, part of the beams and some of the roof pines are the original. When it was excavated it was found that it had been burned and some of the beams were consumed, others however were only partially burned although the roof had fallen to the floor. It was reconstructed about 1937. There are several Indian graves in another section of the Park and they were in the process of digging into several other huge mounds which are within the park area. The work of course has been stopped by the war. It was a long walk, but after we had gone in town and eaten supper we decided to keep on so we went to the Macon City Park to see the very many pretty flowers now in bloom there. A very satisfying day as you can see. Betty Cox’s Mother from New Hampshire came yesterday for a visit with Betty. She was very nice to meet. In the course of the conversation I discovered she knew Uncle Henry and had worked for him in the Hospital at the Soldier’s Home. Small world isn’t it!! I had a letter from Bob yesterday but he didn’t date it. He said he had lost some of his pictures and wanted some more. He had got my address from you, Dot, so he had as you see received the letter in which you sent it to him. I had a letter also from Mae. Everyone there is doing fine. I sent Bobby a little sweater yesterday. Let me know when you receive it, Dot. Also a package addressed to Dad although he probably won’t want some of the things that are in there!! Much love, Write soon. Kay [Transcription ends

Letter from Mary to Family- February 21, 1926

Mary wrote this letter to her family during the second semester of her sophomore year. The letter is written in blue ink on six sheets of Tea House stationery. Mary describes why she started painting and re-touching photographs, her plans for Easter vacation, debating capital punishment, reading books, and wanting new music for her victrola. Transcription: Sun Feb 21. [1926?] Dearest Family. Have just finished reading your special, mother and was so glad to get it. It was here for me after church sometimes I have received your specials on Monday -early - I believe that those must have been mailed in the afternoon instead of in the morning. It’s always so good to hear from home on Sunday. Quite often I get a Special from Mary on Sunday ~ but not today. 2) How dear of Margaritta and Ruth. They are such wonderful thoughtful girls and I love them both. I didn’t even know they had written you until you mentioned if. I shall never forget what happens that evening fixed in my memory. ELAPSE OF TIME. Jean McDowell a Freshman just left. She was here with two girls - one of whom is here visiting her this week-end. Margaritta & I are going for a walk very, very soon. It is a marvelous day out. 3 So you would like to have me tell you how my pictures came to be. Well, there were 4 girls here from Columbus who took pictures of all the Senior, Junior and some Soph. girls for nothing to make a Holden album. Then if we liked them we could order some. Well my proofs weren’t so bad and so I ordered some but they weren’t finished at all decently. And all of a sudden the thought struck me “wouldn’t they look better if I painted them - and so that’s what 4 I did. The picture itself - the way its torn is what is called their “college pannel.” and so I painted 3 of them - sending two away for valentines (one to you and the other to Mary) and keeping one myself. Some of the girls are begging me to paint theirs. It would be quite an undertaking but would bring good money. I’d charge about 25¢ a picture I think. I’ll be so glad when spring comes and things begin to get nice and green. My how this year has just flown. 5 I’ve got to get a Spring coat if I go away Easter vacation - especially if I go to Milwaukee. so I don’t know what I’ll do. If Browners send me a ticket to come to them of course I could hardly miss such a wonderful opportunity. - If they don’t I really think it’s my duty to go to Akron altho I’d love to go to Toledo. Haven’t been feeling well this week end - rather tired and a cold- or sore throat [unclear] socher [/unclear] - but 6. I’ve treated it carefully, going to bed very early the last few nights and staying in bed both Fri and Sat. afternoons - not going to supper last night. But today I feel much better. Haven’t been doing so much work in the Tea Room since exams. - my work averaging about 20 hours a week. I’m trying to study more altho I haven’t begun on my Greek. Debate is fine and I’m enjoying it lots. Prof. Miller spoke some encouraging words after debate - to me the other nite. I surely aim to debate rather than be an alternate. He wants me to work on a second speech soon- 1. “C.P. protects society.” which would bring in the Juke case if it was just right - but I can’t see that it is and I thought I explained it to you once. In the first place Ada Juke and her husband were not murderous themselves - . we cannot say that they should have been put away - 8/ we advocate C.P. for premeditated murder only and the parents weren’t even murderous- Secondly - the argument is weak because the Juke family existed in a state that maintained C.P. all along. Therefore our opponents can say that they had the chance to be executed but on account of the non deterrent effect of C.P. were not billed. They can merely use our case then as an argument that C.P. does not work. Do you see what I mean? 9. It would be a wonderful argument if these situations were removed. I wish I had one for that second speech. Have you anything on C.P. - as a protection for society? Heard from B.W. Madden who gave the reference I know of and one other - - I don’t know where I can read the material. Our library has no such law journals and Probably Wooster has a law library of some kind. 10/ Tomorrow is Washington’s birthday - We have a holiday from chapel Mon - on to chapel Tuesday. We also have our annual “Gum Shoe Hop” in the evening. You remember last year I was in the Frosh. Soph. stunts - well I’m in that this year too - such fun! The activities have begun now and time will just fly till time to come home! Must write to Mary this afternoon. - Am reading three wonderful books. 11/ “The Man Nobody Know”- “Christ of the Indian road” “Whitherbound in Missions”— all late books. Think I’ll use the first in my prayer group now ~ Perhaps I could use “Prayer and Missions”. It might be good - but don’t send it if you think you might possibly need it. Margaritta is here Love Bean. Please send me about a doz real nice records in my laundry? — I have Marys vic now & I’ve only got 2 records - one’s the “[unclear] Monter [/unclear] Love Song”- How ‘bout sending me my kimona?https://openworks.wooster.edu/marybehner_papers/1027/thumbnail.jp

Letter from S. M. Brown to John Muir, 1910 Mar 8.

Wiarton, OntarioMar 8th \u2710Der Mr. MuirStickeen is one of my dearest dog friends. now, and forever, and I have quite a number of them, that, like him. I have never seen. The wee hairy sleekit beastie : The little herd: and yet he was not heroic until the moment when, while still in deadly fear, he decided to face the peril, and deliberately slid his little feet over the edge of the ice diver. That moment should make him immortal. But the manner of manifesting his joy in being saved, exceeds any thin I have ever read of being shown by any creature below the human.Perhaps Browning was right when he said God made all the creatures, and gave them our love and our fearTo give sign we and they are His children, one family here But the little book that your kind thought prompted you to send me has given me much more than the story of little Strickeen. It has given me not a glimpse merely, but a wide open gaze into the heart of John Muir, and I [illegible] that I have formed another friend, and not alone for the brief end of time that may remain to us here, but, for all the eternal years of God that lie beyond. Yet I reverently thank God for giving me the privilege of beginning the friendship while here. for it is so much the more gained, besides being an added joy to life04725 2I have kept step by step with you and little Stickeen from the moment you started out in the early morning called by the luring yet imperative verse of the storm - Had I been there I think I would have insisted upon the cup of coffee and a breakfast as a wise preparation for a day\u27s tramp over a glacier in the company of so fine a storm - I watched with you the flying clouds and the driven rain, and listened to that most thrilling of all wood land music, the whispering of the leaves, and the long, deep sighing, half-moaning voice of the wind among the top most branches of the trees. How well I know that sound, it catches my heart as few things can. Then I saw the trees - my special friends - being torn and crushed and ground in the cold, pitiless grasp of the beautiful ice.Then as you pushed out for the western shore of the great prairie of ice , I note your remark that Nature can make us do any thing she likes . [illegible]e[illegible]e, and yet what tricks she often plays upon her devot[illegible] met with during the early part of the day. But when the return journey began, and the flowers of the mountain clouds came down upon the swift wings of the wind, wrapping all in a gray gloom, my heart began to be faint with fear for the two wanderers, seemingly alone with the tempest and the night. For, after all, you see I was only looking on, and that is the most nerve-trying thing any one can do in a time of danger. But [now?], when worn and spent by the fatigue of the day, the awful chasm yawned at your feet, little the fate of death, and with no alternative! Ah, dear friend, I am glad that time has spread her04725 3softening haze over that soul-testing experience, and that now, you know, of a surety, that common skill and fortitude were replaced of power that has its source only in the Almighty hand of God. whose wisdom [illegible] wa[illegible]th . and - whose sight is never dim In closing the little book my great regret was that you were afterwards parted from little Stickeen. He should have spent the remainder of his too brief dog life with you- By the way- the missionary Mr. Young- must surely be the author of My dogs of the Northland , a book that I read with much [interest?] for I have ever been a lover of dogs, as well as of all the kindred of the wild You spoke of wandering Peter Trout having visited you. He visited me also, later, yes, he has evidently wandered, or drifted thro life, and will do so [illegible] the end I fear. He spoke of three or four projects that he had in mind, by means of any of which he could make a fortune, and added that he might not do any of them , [illegible]y he [unconsciously?] told me the story of his life. It is a pity for nature endowed him with the capability of being a man The biographical sketch enclosed in your letter tells me that you are only two years my senior. as I have just passed the limit of the years all[illegible] to human life - a fact that I find it hard to realize. But we are learning that age is not a matter of years, but of the mind. I note that the story of Stickeen is dedicated to Helen Muir - William Trout wrote me giving a minute account of the doings and festivities at the marriage of his daughter Luceretia04725 4and incidentally mentioned that your daughter Helen had been married about the same time. But her mother\u27s name might also be Helen.May I ask to know some thing of your family. I know nothing? But I noted - in the article by H. T. F[illegible], in Feb. Scribner\u27s - that you were living alone at the time the party visited you, but that might only means that your family were absent for a time. I venture to hope that you will know that these [enquires?] are not prompted by curiosity I had read some time ago of the danger that threatened, of Hetch-Hetchy being stolen from the people. But the pamphlet you sent me gives a much clearer and more concise view of the whole matter, than anything I had seen before. No worthier monument of your life\u27s work could be desired or imagined that to avert such a wrong being done to p[illegible]y, and I most sincerely hope, and believe that you will succeed in preventing such a crim. -for [illegible] be that - - It was must generous of you to say. Write again , and I will endeavour not to abuse your generosity by trespassing upon your time. I have not seen your other two books, but must get them. I presume they are published only on your side of the [illegible] I wish you could know with what pleasure, and pride too, I received the little book, and the inscription adds to its value a hundred fold. You will be familiar with the Scottish use of the word lifted — for, a good Scot never forgets — That is my state of mind since receiving your letter, and the other [illegible] of your regard, for all of which please accept the thanks ofyour sincere friendS. M. Brown0472

Letter from Hattie Trout to John Muir, 1866 May 10

[4]I am sorry you have not nicer companions in your boarding house Am glad you are not deprived of the privilege of meeting with your flower companions and there are a great many more privileges that we are not deprived of no matter where we roam. Am very thankful John that you do not forget us. I love to be remembered by my dear friends and I don\u27t forget them. You are not forgotten for a single day, and I know I will always remember you, and I ask the same of you for I need very much to be remembered and cheered on to duty, unworthy though I be yet One is worthy - guide thou me May health and prosperity be yours and Heavens choicest blessings rest upon you is the ardent wish and prayer of your very affectionate friend Hattie Trout[1] Meaford May 10th 1866 C. R. Sing My Dear friend John I have taken my seat to have a real cozy old chat with you. I have selected a large sheet of paper for I don\u27t feel as though paper of any size should contain all the things I would like to speak with you about, and in trying to get my rambling thoughts collected on paper I fear I may lose track of them altogether. The first thing and that which is freshest on my memory is about the darling hollow. I have not to minutes ago returned from visiting it, and you don\u27t know who I wished & wished again that its old inhabitants were there. But not one face was there to greet us. Who do you think was with me? why Duncan. He came down here this afternoon and I saddled one of those little ponies of Sing\u27s (I can ride them when I like) and we rode out there together - now you fancy yourself with us and I will tell00374I have put off speaking of my progress in botany till the last I am sorry John but I must tell you the truth. I have not got a manual yet, so that I could not try to analyze those sweet little flowers you sent from Ind. I sent for Wood\u27s and it could not be got and the money was spent for Maggie, so I could not get it since, but I hope before you hear from me again I can re- port better success - not much of the season has passed away yet and I hope I may get one soon In the mean time I am deriving a great deal of pleasure and profit from the Structural which I am sure you will miss very much - it surely is an excellent work. I have not heard whether Mary Harcus is able to analyze or not I told your S. S. class you did not forget them and they all looked up as tickled as could be. they all seem to attend very well. Peter still teaches them. Johnson came back and took Charlie\u27s class again Wm\u27s class all vanished. The school is increasing and great need of more teachers. I am sure you can give me some good hints in your next about conducting a Sunday school -628 [2]you of our rambles. We rode up tied our horses to the gate and then was when we missed Marys kind face to greet us. The first thing I did was caught hold of a bunch of that dear old thyme that you used to make a furrow in. I inhaled its odor with pleasure and I send you a piece of the very bunch - it is not very green yet. everything is very backward we have had an unusual cold dry spring - only 2 or 3 warm days the 1st of April and since that time Nature has almost stood still. There is not a green leaf to be seen on the trees yet and very few flowers - even the little liverworts are not half as abundant as other seasons, these I enclose Duncan and I gathered on the side hill next the 7th line. We gathered them all for thee. All these wild-wood flowers, sweet wild-wood flowers This is what Maggie used to sing - But to return to the garden all the flowers that were in bloom were a few daffodils - your Mary Ann daisy is almost froze out, there is just a little bit of it peeping up out of the ground. Aye John everything looks neglected and makes me feel sad. But the darling wild birds sing as sweetly as ever in the trees. The lovely hills and ever flowing little stream is just the same, and it is impossible for me to describe the feelings I had - every place I would turn would bring some pleasing remembrance to my mind. Was there ever more freedom of speech thought and action felt on earth than in that hollow - we were all equal - every one did as they chose. Ah me. I hope that the happy days will return that we may be there again [3]and that you might be one of our number for at least a short time. The circle would be incomplete without you The Malta kitten and I are all that remains of the once happy occupants of that little spot, so you must feel very sorry for me and say poor Hattie for John I do feel lonely. I cant help it. Though my time is continually occupied I feel as if there was something lacking, and it is just the company of my most intimate friends. I can only get home once a week, for it is too far to walk and teach my school for it has been larger than ever this spring. Then when I do go home there are so many absent ones. Mary is away on her wished for trip; but poor thing she will never see Anna this side eternity. I don\u27t know when ever I felt so much for any one. It seemed as hard to think that Mary did not go when Anna wished to see her so much. - she should have gone the time that you did and nothing can comfort her for not going except the consciousness that she was endeavoring to do her duty. I don\u27t know whether she will go to Wm ville or not - they wished her to go - but she has gone to Toronto and to visit among our friends in Erin and I am so glad for I am sure it will do her good. Maggie of course is having good times in Toronto going to school. Rachel commences her school again on Monday - so that the boys and Anna Spratford are all that are with father & mother: but father is getting quite like himself again, is able tow walk about the fields & garden, and came to meeting last Sunday being the first for 16 weeks - some of the friends were quite overcome with joy to see him among them again - he was not able to speak much [4]I feel so thankful that he is still spared with me. I heard lately that the doctor had not the least hopes of his recovery last winter What do you think. I had a letter from Dan at last and it was not a fool of a one either. It came a very nice letter just like Dannie himself - he did not send me his photograph though and I half wish now I had not sent him mine - he said I would have to look to you for it: and I have to look to you for your own also please John like a good boy don\u27t forget to send me yours You wont - will you? - I enjoyed the reading of your letter so much. Charlie said when he went away if there was a letter came from you I could open it and then send it to him I did so and with genuine satisfaction - I will be anxiously waiting now to get one from you right to myself. Don\u27t keep me waiting for it too long. I should have written to you before but I thought I would wait until we heard from you again as the girls & Charlie had written. Poor Charlie we feel lonely enough without him. I miss him to tease me if nothing else; but he is a kind good boy - and he likes his missus too I suppose by this time he is with you at Oil Springs - you will likely hear from them pretty soon. I think they might about as well be over there with you as where they are - if they were in a healthy part. I am afraid that you will get sick when the warm weather comes - you should not stay if you find it does not agree with you - your friends here as far as I know are well - I don\u27t see Miss Harcus often - only twice since you were here. I think she is lonely - we write to each other occasionally. I am sorry she has to be so far from her friends. I told Duncan of your enquiries for him and kind wishes for his happiness - he spoke of you in very affectionate terms and wished to be remembered to you and if he was a letter writer would like to hear from you. I suppose he would any way. he has been quite poorly most of the spring, poor fellow, he has not been out much, nor able to do much at home and I think he feels discouraged - and no wonder he is improving now though and I hope he will be better for the summer - just look; here I am at the bottom of this newspaper, and quite unconscious of the amount of paper I was covering - and don\u27t feel as if I was near done yet ------Don\u27t say any thing about the manner in which those flowers are put i

Letter from Geo[rge] G. Mackenzie to [Robert Underwood] Johnson , 1890 Nov 15, 18 .

[1]ImportantNevada Falls,Yosemite, Nov. 15., \u2790Dear Mr. Johnson: I have been here for a week, taking care of a man whom I found here injured while at work on a bridge and unable to help himself. Yesterday I went to the Valley for mail, and rec\u27d your note of the 3d. I also found that a Mr. Newsham, a representative of the Interior Dep\u27t, had arrived on Sunday, coming to the Valley with Henry Washburn in the latter\u27s private buggy. In fact, on my way down to the Valley, I met Mr. Newsham coming up the trail with Galen Clark. The latter introduced me to the visitor, but said nothing of his official condition. I learned, however, in the Valley who the stranger was, and Henry Washburn told me that Newsham had been inquiring for me. Consequently, as I had to come back here yesterday, I timed myself so that I caught the gentleman at the foot of the trail. I told him that I understood he was from the Interior Dep\u27t and that he wanted to speak with me. He said that there was nothing in particular for which he wished to talk with me, but that he had only wanted to make acquaintance06352 [2]with the people here. I then told him that I would be happy to accompany him around the Valley, and would place myself at his disposal for a day or a week or whatever time he had at command. He hesitated momentarily, and then said that he was going to the Big Trees today with Mr. Washburn, that he possibly might come back, and if he should return he would send me word through Mr. Clark! With that we parted. I had half a mind to go down again to the Valley last evening and ask Mr. Newsham exactly what he came here to do or to learn. If he came to see the condition of the Valley he went about it in a queer way. He arrived on Sunday - the exact hour I have not yet learned. He has left (I suppose) this morning. He came in with Washburn, could only have had an hour or two on Sunday to see the Valley, and yesterday was spent in coming up here, as his return to the Valley was too late to leave him time for any other trip. I at first thought that he might have come about the Little Yosemite business, but the young man whom I have been nursing here tells me that Clark and the other could not have gone up the trail further than to the head [3]of the Nevada Fall. I will find out about that today from clark himself. Perhaps Mr. Newsham\u27s business is not in connection with Yosemite mismanagement. However, he gave it out freely in the Valley, and told the young man here, that he had come from the Secretary of the Interior himself to see about the National Park. Anyway I think it right that you should know just how he came and by whom he was steered while here. To me it looks very suspicious that the first representative of the Department who shows himself should let himself be steered by Washburn, the head-center of the ring, and by Clark, the ring\u27s subservient tool. It is suspicious, too, that Mr. Newsham did not take a look at Little Yosemite, after the Department\u27s promise to you that that business should be investigated at the earliest practicable moment. Any day now may bring a storm that will prevent approach to Little Yosemite. I hope that you have preserved your correspondence with the Dep\u27t on that point. If I get the least ground for believing that the Dep\u27t intends to yield to the influence of the Yosemite06352 [4]ring I will tell the story in print, and charge Noble with being a party to the fraud. I would therefore like to know what you wrote to the Dep\u27t and what, and from whom, you were answered. Of course I don\u27t jump to the conclusion that anything is wrong; but it is well to be ready for anything wrong. I heard yesterday that the Examiner has published a letter from me. As I have written none to that paper, I do not know what the letter can be. I hope to see a copy today. I would have left here last week, had I not found the injured man at this place. As it is I will probably be around here for at least a week more. I will not go to the ranch of which I spoke before, and am therefore wholly uncertain as to my movements. I have no money to take me to any town, but will shift along down either to the Raymond country, where there is a little house that I can use, or go down to Oakdale. But if you have occasion to write, address me here until I send other word. Before I leave I hope to finish some writing that will bring in some of the [sinews?] of war.Yours Very TrulyGeo. G. Mackenzie Yoseimte - 18 Nov.I have just learned that the Yosemite Nat\u27l Park Act is defective. The western boundary is improperly described. I will write about it to some paper, and send copy to you, so that you can understand. Newsham left this afternoon, having visited Glacier Point with Clark this morning. Why could he not have accepted my offer to show him around the Valley? The thing doesn\u27t look right - that is, if Newsham came to investigate and not on a mere pleasure trip. He told Clark that he was a particular friend of Noble, etc. etc. The Examiner\u27s article (referred to above) was a telegraphic condensation of my letter to Noble. The Examiner has an editorial on it, but my words are greatly misrepresented and the whole effect weakened.0635

Letter from Clara Barrus to John Muir, 1914 Nov 11.

Riverby, West Park, N.Y.November 11,1914My dear Mr. Muir,Here I am living in the little cottage at Riverby , formerly occupied by Mr. Burroughs\u27s son and family, and just a stone\u27s throw from the big house where Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs live, and they take their meals with me. It is charming here by the river, and is even prettier than my little chalet at Pelham where you came for that flying visit on J. B\u27s seventieth birthday. We heard this summer that you were not very well, then later we heard that you were better, but of late we have heard nothing from you, and I have been on the point of writing you many times this summer; but between the domestic duties at Woodchuck Lodge, and the typewriting, and entertaining of guests, and reading the horrible war news, the days have flown by, with my intentions never materializing. Mr. Burroughs said several times this spring, I wish you would write and get John Muir out here for the summer in the mountains. I always meant to try, but the truth is, I felt the hopelessness of the thing. Had I really felt that any thing we might write would bring you, I would have dropped everything and written a letter a day until you came. But you are gey ill to persuade, and I never should attempt it, only I wish you would persuade yourself that you want to come to us for another summer, and then come, and if you don\u27t learn to love the broad-backed hills of Delaware County, and the wide valleys, and if you don\u27t enjoy the glacial tracings on the Catskill rocks, albeit they are not such tremendous affairs as your noble El Capitan and Half Dome, it will be because there is no place in your nature for the love of the gentler aspects of Nature-- a thing which you cannot make anyone believe who has seen you pluck a tiny [illegible] densa from the rocks, and who has read what you have written about the water ouzel!I wish you would take time to drop us a line as to how you are, entirely apart from what I am now to write to you. Concerning this proposal, if you cannot comply, don\u27t take the trouble to write more than to signify that fact, but I am hoping that Barkis will be willin! so here goes for explanation:Mr. John Lewis Childs of Floral Park, N.Y, the great flower and seed man, an old friend of J. B\u27s, a sound business man, an enthusiastic nature lover, and a great lover of children, is going to start a school magazine, to interest and help children between the ages of five and fifteen. It is to cover nature-study, athletics, gardening, hygiene, morals, travel, short stories, hints and helps in work and play, etc. I have agreed to be its editor. He has the names of John Burroughs and two other people of note in their particular fields as contributing editors, and, as he is a personal friend of Roosevelt\u27s, hopes to get his name to add to the list. He wants very much to have your name as contributing editor also, which will entail no burden upon you, but simply means that you will send us a short article once in a while, the oftener the better, for which you will be paid as for any magazine article. Please say yes to this, for we are going ahead with the Prospectus, and would like to put your name down with the others.Mr. Childs has been revolving this scheme a long time and has been in communication with hundreds of teachers who assure him that there is a real need for such a magazine, even in this day of multitudinous magazines. He is going to make the subscription price so05879 cheap, twenty-five cents a year(ten numbers) that the poorest child can subscribe, and he is going to get the best contributors he can secure for it. The first number is to come out in April 1915,so we are to set right to work to gather the material for it. Mr. Burroughs is to write something for the first number, and if you will for the April, May or June number, we can announce it ahead in the Prospectus. But if you can\u27t promise that yet, will you consent to your name going down as one of the Contributing editors? And will you let me know right away?You told me some mighty interesting anecdotes of your early inventions, which I am sure would be of great interest to boys. But anything you would write, and on any topic, would be welcomed. Your early or late adventures, any aspect of them likely to interest boys and girls .Do be good and say yes, for the sake of the boys and girls all over the land whom you love, and who love you, and whom you want to help love the things that you love.John of Birds has been much stirred up this summer over the terrible war; he has written but little, has read but little else, and talked but little else. His feeling toward the Kaiser has been so strong that he has chopped his head off in every block of wood he split for our kitchen stove all summer, and we burned a good deal of wood. I am so weary of reading of the slaughter and suffering that I turn to this new venture for furnishing wholesome food for the mind of the child with eagerness. Besides, it will furnish me with agreeable work,which I can carry on in my own little home, with my children(brother\u27s children)about me, and with them to teach me in more ways than one, things I need to know. I had three of them with me last winter, and shall soon have two or three with me again. I also have one patient, but I hope to be able to send her home soon, so to be freer for pleasanter duties. I find it harder to care for one mental invalid in my home than it was to care for several hundred in a hospital, for here I am never free of them.Mrs. Ashley and the Doctor and their two beautiful daughters motored over here one day last July before we left for the mountains. We always speak of you and wish we could show you the beauties of our country hereabouts, as you showe us those of your great noble forests, and mountains.I don\u27t write often to you, so you must forgive me if I inflict a long letter when I do write.Sincerely and hopefully yours,[illegible]0587

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated January 15, 1944

First part of letter typed [Transcription begins] WAC Det. IRTC Camp Wheeler, Georgia Sat. 15// January 1944 Dear Folks, I got your nice letter, Mother, last night. To answer some of your questions, I can’t really tell what I think of it alll yet; it is too new to form any real opinions on. The weather is loosy. (sic) Deliver me from having to spend many winters in Georgia. It rains nearly all the time and is very cold and damp. We wear our heavy overcoats and still shiver most of the time. If and when the sun comes out it is failry (sic) warm but that is so seldom one forgets about it in between times. The country is not at this time of the year at all attractive. There is a great deal of sand and little foliage arund (sic) the camp. Our barracks is in a stretch of sand with no trees anywhere near. I’m afraid it will be terribly hot in summer and it is windy and cold now. Most of the girls have very bad colds, but I have been lucky in that respect so far. I guess my living at camp so long this last year has toughened me for this half outdoors living. It compares with our climate when we have a wet cold last of October and first of November just before the snow comes. The trees and grass are dead and everything is dirty looking as it is at home before the snow comes, but down here they never have the snow to cover it up; it is like this for months---Me, I don’t like it, I’d rather have snow. As far as the job goes, this one I’m on now is just routine and not enough of it to keep me busy at all; but the captain who interviewed us yesterday said that I would be changed shortly so I’m not worrying about it at all. This is a brand new outfit of WACs here. They keep coming in a few at time and until the whole detachment is here nothing much will be done about placing the girls on their permanet (sic) jobs – just now they are using us wherever they can to keep us busy and to get some routine jobs done. I’m sending home a picture of our company at basic training; it is not as good as I hoped it would be; the photographer was too far away so that the people are too samll (sic) in it; however with a mangnizying (sic) glass it might be pretty good as apparently most of the girls took (a) fine picture. The C.O’s is no where near as good looking or very attractive looking. It is now 10.00A.M. and we have typed just two furlough(s) – (five minutes a piece) all this morning and there are two of us on the job. I’ll sure be glad when and if they change me to something that is busier. (switches to handwriting) Some just came in so the Corporal is going to type them. He is as bored as I am. He is a nice chap from Ohio. The clipping about the Bangor Airport is interesting. I wonder if the girls will be transferred or jut let out. I guess I’m just as well off here. -2- There hasn’t been much to write about since my last letter. I went to bed early Thursday night. Last night we had a talk from the WAC captain from Birmingham, Alabama who is next in command above our lieutenant in the WAC 6 (?) After the talk we cleaned the barracks for this morning’s inspection. I felt like working and scrubbed all the evening. You should see me down on my hands & knees with a GI Brush scrubbing floors. Maybe that job Aunt Grace turned down at the bank will still be available for me when I get out of the service. I’ll be right in trim for it. Marjorie’s sister wrote her that she was going to clean house when Marjorie came home on furlough so Marjorie wouldn’t get our of practice during her furlough. The boys have lost the bottle opener and are having a grand time trying to open their coke bottles on the edge of a table. They nearly all have coca colas in the middle of the morning and again in the afternoon. -3- I have been using my spare time here in the office to type up some form letters to send out to our basic company members so as to let them know where we are and in hopes they’ll answer and tell us about themselves. I’ll enclose a copy so you can see it. That picture of Evelyn didn’t look natural. I doubt if I would have recognized it. Do you want it back? I am also enclosing a Sample copy of a Furlough Paper so you can see what I’m doing. Love Kay [Transcription ends