Delia Locke Diary, 1880-1884

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Delia Locke

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Page 134

1881. July 16. Saturday. We found no mail awaiting our arrival here, so were disappointed. We see nothing of Luther as yet hope he will come - looked for him last night at every Hotel - thought perhaps he would come to camp - but he came not. We slept well last night, having partly dried our wet beds and tent on the way, as we stopped for dinner, for the sun shone brightly on us there. It is very cool here nights and mornings, for the sun does not shine on us till late and sets for us early, but we find the heat is great here through the middle of the day, reflected from these immense rocks. People here say the river and falls have all been raised by this late rain, and the Yo-Semite Falls thunder continually day and night. I have written a letter home sitting in sight and sound of them. Mr. Pascoe is busy baking bread with the Dutch oven, and the girls are doing a large washing, and all getting settled in what will be our home for a few days. This afternoon we have been to see the Bridal Veil Falls about four miles from here. All went but Mr. Pascoe and Mary. She was sick and he was busy preparing for the Sabbath. We were told that the best time of day to visit them was at 4 P.M. and we found the view indeed beautiful. They make one leap of 940 feet, then the water tumbles all the rest of the way down over grant rocks and boulders, making a noise like thunder. When the sun shines on them, there is always a rainbow to be seen, and some of the time as we watched them there were two and even three rainbows spanning the foot of the falls, where there is always a mist like a shower of rain. All but Ada, Alice I went close up to the foot of the falls, under the mist, and got quite wet. It is a hard climb over the big rocks, and Ada fell and hurt her thumb so badly as to prevent her going all the way up, as the wet rocks are very slippery. Alice was not strong enough, neither was I, so we sat and enjoyed the view. However, we all had

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1881. crossed the Creek on the stones over the rapids, three or four times. They were all surprised at me that I had strength to climb so well, and I was surprised at myself. But the reason is, I have not asthma now - praise the Lord - and am now gaining strength fast. We got back to camp at dark to find a letter waiting for us from Ida - the first time we have heard from home - they are all well. (T.S.R. 55. 2 P.M. 92. S.S. 73.)

July 17. Sabbath in Yo-Semite Valley - a rare treat indeed - and to be permitted to worship with other tourists in that beautiful little chapel dedicated to God in this wonderful place. True it is rough and unfinished, and looks small and insignificant under these lofty crags, but we know our God "dwelleth not in temples made with hands", that we could worship Him just as acceptably if there were no chapel, still it is pleasant to Him that His children have found it in their hearts to "build Him an house", that those who wander here may meet together to talk of His love to us, which seems so much the more wonderful when we see how great and glorious He is, by these wondrous works of His. All attended meeting today, some in the morning and some in the evening. I was one of the morning party and we attended the S. school, where the day school teacher - Miss Alice Willetts - gathers each week as many as she can of her scholars about her and tells them "the old, old story", ever new. She is from San Francisco and very energetic. This is her first school, and sometimes she feels lonely and discouraged, but still she perseveres, and she will have her reward. Miss Hutchins (Hutchings) - the guide of the Valley - rang the bell for church, and quite a company assembled, and Dr. McLean, of the First Cong. church of Oakland, preached to us from the 23rd Psalm - "The Lord is my Shepherd," &.c. It was a good and very comforting sermon. We spent the afternoon pleasantly in reading, singing and talking. I wrote a postal home. All went to meeting this evening, except Mr. Cooke and myself. Mr. [?] Butler Penn. preached. (T.S.R. 62. 2 P.M. 94. S.S. 85.)

Date Original

January 1880

Dates Covered

1880-1884

Circa Date

circa 1880-1884

Source

Original dimensions: 22 x 34 cm.

Resource Identifier

Locke_Diary_1880-1884_Image_072.tif

Publisher

Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

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