Letter from M.R. Moore [Mrs. J.P. Moore] to John Muir, 1872 Aug 4.

Creator

M.R. Moore [Mrs. J.P. Moore]

Recipient

John Muir

Preview

Transcription

Oakland. Cal.,August 4th. '72.My dear Mr. Muir,At last I have an hour to myself and we will have a little chat. Ever since my return the house has been full of visitors, too busy and too full to think of writing, though I found letters waiting for me. Yet this is the first I've written.Mr. Moore has gone to church and taken Mc[Chesney] with him, and the quiet of the house is delicious. I would love to be with you in that glorious country this beautiful morning, but yet I can enjoy it here and do. For two weeks after our return the fog was dreadful and how sorry I was that I did not stay longer, but now the weather is charming and I am more contented. We had a good trip home, for the hills had a new interest and told their stories in plainer language and with clearer voices. You must certainly follow up your ice streams, I saw much that looked as if the Pacific had swallowed them up. But yet many things bothered me, things that would give you no trouble, I'm sure, for you know I'm "only a baby" yet in this thing. What good long talks your dear Mrs. Carr and I have had all about you, and she thinks as I and all your friends do—that you ought to come down this fall to the Coast Range — for a look around, if no more — before you go farther in your studies. What a sincere unselfish friend you have in her! It is lovely to see such a pure affection, so true, and yet so clear sighted, for — mind you, — she sees your shortcomings too! Ah! this is a glorious woman!Now about your coming down, let me tell you what we are going to do, and see if you can't time your movements to harmonize with ours. About the 1st of October we shall go up to the ranch for a month — can't you manage to go with us? What long tramps we will have! and what good times "on fresh fields and pastures new." What do you say? Say yes, and I will arrange the trip so that it will be right, no mutton-heads shall trouble us, be sure!Apropos. I have seen our H. H. party only once. Mr. Smith called and I like him so much. He is looking forward to the Tamalpais trip with you. The bill from Bayley was about $65 — I think he must have become ashamed of the first estimate and reduced it to about what he thought we would stand. Even then he seemed in doubt about it and wanted to know if we thought it too much! Ah, Nature puts her sign manual on some people, only we don't take the trouble to read it. The Cheneys — that is all, but Robt. and Mr. C. have gone East but Annie and two uncles are coming back next month. I think they will conclude to live here. Mr. C. has been gaining in health ever since his return. He dined here yesterday and I never saw him looking better. He talked of you and wished to be remembered in this letter, and said many kind things of you, for he admires you. And by the way, so did Annie, but that I'll reserve to tease you with when I see you. "Any young man who don't improve his opportunities, etc." you know the rest!Mrs. Carr is not at home just now, unless she returned last night. A sister-in-law has been sick and she went down to see her some days ago. So the Prof, brought up a letter from you night before last for me to read. Thanks, many thanks, for your kindly memories of me, and all my botherings, which were neither few nor far between. I fully appreciate your forbearance, for I know I'm inclined to be lawless at times, and the glorious freedom of the mountains bewitched me, but keep my memory green, for a while anyhow. O didn't I hear from Mrs. C. all about Dr. Gray and what a good rich time you had? didn't I think of you every day, for I knew when he went up, and didn't I enjoy it all with you in fancy? Of course I did.Now, see here. I've filled this sheet full and said very little of what I intended to say, for instance about the possibility of Mrs. C going up to the beautiful valley this fall. She thinks it out of the question, and that you'd better come down, and a dozen other things I wanted to say. Just room for Mr. Moore's love but not for mine, for remember that no one takes a warmer interest in you or your studies, or sympathizes more fully in all your hopes and aspirations, or believes more fully in you, or has a warmer, cosier place in her heart for you thanYour friend, M. R. MooreRemember me kindly to Mrs. Hutchings.[Letter inscribed, in Muir's handwriting, "Mrs. J. P. Moore]474

Location

Oakland [Calif.]

Date Original

1872 Aug 4

Source

Original letter dimensions: 20 x 25 cm.

Resource Identifier

muir02_0873-trans.tif

File Identifier

Reel 02, Image 0873

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