Creator
[Louie Strentzel Muir]
Recipient
John Muir
Preview
Transcription
Martinez, Cal., Sept. 12,1885.Dear John:Wanda and I intended to send a long letter to meet you at Crete, and indeed when baby awoke this morning, she wanted to know "why mama could not take baby's own little self over to Auntie Margaret's house to see dear papa when he first comes there?" but just now, I am out of any traveling mood; and the postoffice Celestial is nearly ready to start.Mr. Carter's Chinamen went to the other ranch this morning, so grandpa and I drove over to look after the pear-pickers, etc. They are taking what Vicars, Winter Nelises and other pears the codlin moth legions have left, so the orchard will be quite well cleared when you come, but, alas, the squirrels, gophers, rats and mice are mightier than ever. The quails are attending to the Zinfandels, but they, the birds, will be all the better-flavored for our dinners by and by.Mr. Carter wants, as soon as possible, 2 carloads of Tokay and Muscat grapes at 50 & 40 dollars per ton. Mr. Earl, also, is anxious to begin shipping very soon. Prices are somewhat higher as the Sacramento grapes leave: last week these sold on the wharf at 25 cts. per box.Our Sweetwaters are nearly all gone, 40 to 60 cts. per free box. The Tokays are coloring finely and Muscats are now quite sweet.All last week the weather was cool and damp, most delightful for my poor head, but now the grapes are having a lavish share of tropical sunbeams, and they are growing and glowing in accordance.I have had to be very quiet for several days again; faintness and broken sleep at night because of the little restless quiverings.I wanted to move home next week, but find now that I must stay here until you come Wanda has made friends with Carrie Cutler and Alice Bush, and wants to go and see them, but I could not take her. This morning while I was gone, she coaxed grandma out on the porch, and then out on the pavement all around the house, and now she is very happy with thinking that her staying with grandma has made her perfectly well.Sunday afternoon.Yesterday afternoon grandpa forgot my letter and sent Ah Choi to the postoffice without it, as the telephone bell was ringing wildly. Mr. Earl wanted to know if he could commence shipping Muscat grapes Monday morning, and said his Chinese packers would come up this evening, so we shall be very busy the coming week.Grandpa has sent several boxes of grapes to Louisville; the Muscats and Sultanas were very fine. The bunches need so little trimming now that we shall try our best to send off as fast as possible.[Louie Muir]
Location
Martinez, Cal
Date Original
1885 Sep 12
Source
Original letter dimensions: 20.5 x 25.5 cm.
Resource Identifier
muir05_0435-trans.tif
File Identifier
Reel 05, Image 0435
Copyright Status
Copyright status unknown
Copyright Statement
Some letters written to John Muir may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Owning Institution
University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Page Number
Page 3
Keywords
John Muir, correspondence, letters, author, writing, naturalist, California, correspondent, mail, message, post, exchange of letters, missive, notes, epistle
