[4]It looks as if we would leave Washington May 2 and arrive in San Francisco about the middle of the month, going [illegible] Santa Fe & the Grand Canon. I hope to take the 3 girls along.Congress did little by us than usual this year (though not by me personally). We are sending expeditions to Mexico, Alaska, & Great B[illegible] and shall have field parties, as usual, in New Mexico & California.Burroughs was here for a day or so a few [mths?] ago & thought he might go to California with us. He said he would like to return John Muir\u27s call.Every night when [we?] [illegible] the nuts & raisins we think of your kind thoughtfulness.The 3 girls join in kindest regards to you & yours.A[illegible]C. Hart MerriamTo John Muir[1]WashingtonMarch 20, 1903My dear Mr. Muir:So you thought I was never going to send you those photos! Well, it certainly looked that way. Washington is a good place for some things but not for photographers. When I finally got a man started at our work he had only got [illegible] [illegible] up when he suddenly took sick & fell into bed with a fever and didn\u27t show up again for about 6 weeks. Then he [was?] naturally slow - like Helen\u27s [brown?] horse.03189 [2]Speaking of Helen reminds me that in her numerous letters she always forgets to tell us her choice of those stories. But her letters are awfully funny & Mrs Merriam & the children laugh till the tears run down their cheeks every time one comes. [Zenaida?] says they sound a little old for Helen and she suspects her father\u27s influence is tending to make her fremat[illegible]y antiquated; but Dorothy says they are just right; and we were all delighted with the one about the 3-legged cow and the bluejay. We all think she ought to typewrite this one and send it to Youth\u27s [Companion?].But why dont you ever show up at this end of the[3]line? Have you made up your mind to look fierce and live and die in California without giving your far away friends a chance to impose on you in their own homes? Too bad. [illegible]os\u27e you are too busy writing book reviews & travelers guides!Now I\u27m about to give you a big surprise. I\u27m a rival of Cook & Kay[[illegible]d & have determined to go into the traveling ch[illegible] business. Perhaps this does not describe it exactly. The thing [is?] this, I have undertaken to conduct\u27 a specially conducted party across the continent. This first time it is a party of bird c[illegible] and their friends, with a strong Presbyterian flavor on your accoun
