Letter from Abbigail Allen to [John Muir], [1914 ?].

Creator

Abbigail Allen

Recipient

[John Muir]

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Transcription

[1914?]My good friend,It was very good of you to tell me of your well-being. And so I think of you in the "Better Land" — not the Promised Land that is "being prepared for us, but the future without doubt is wisely hidden from us. I have thought of my future so much that I feel it cannot be very far away and of my good boy that you speak so kindly of as my Ministering Spirit, and to me it does not seem very far-fetched or very presuming to think and feel our ways are made for us and we need not think our planning in advance is presuming on the Divine plans for us.We have a blind friend of Jessie's rooming here, and she takes her meals with us generally. She reads much of the time, but in the raised letters for the blind. I have read this morning's news to her, as she is greatly interested in the War news, and the news is now so startling it is enough to drive one wild. Are you not satisfied that your lot was cast in this goodly land? Will not the good Creator put the ways and means into his children's hands that good may come out of all these seeming ills? Maybe if we call it a "goodly land" long enough and strong enough something may come of it — anyway no harm can come of it.I sat down to tell you of the good tenants we have secured — after a long waiting a family did come and asked for the lower floor of this house, and we gladly said yes, with no reservation only that we might keep the front parlor. It is a family of two boys and the boys are 14 and 13 years old; two girls, soon to be young ladies. The mother, once a normal pupil, recognized the enlarged photo, and this drew her very closely into our hearts and after two months as an inmate of our home she is nearer and dearer. All are very companionable and friendly. Aunt Phi has returned from Alameda, so our rooms are all inhabited and we are quite satisfied. I tell you our family affairs, knowing you will feel with us, knowing we are very comfortably housed. Our upper rooms are ample for our needs — the outlook is fine. The boys water the garden and mow the lawn, so we are relieved of this care. I thought I could never, without the generous help of my good boy, work in the garden, but I did and the care so soon rewarded my watchful work that I very soon felt thankful that I began my long watchful work.Mr. Muir, you asked if I ever had an oil likeness of Mr. Allen. No, I never had an oil picture of him, and I am heartily grieved to say so. The only one we had other than the last photo was at our golden wedding time, which was an excellent one. Miss Royce had it again retouched by the Artist "Hill. He was very much pleased with his efforts. Miss Royce left it in our care while she went on her vacation. She was afraid something might happen to it. She found it safe, and it is still on our wall awaiting her call for it. I hope you may ere long come to see us all, and also see this very good reprint. We should be overjoyed if your own was beside this — think seriously of this.Mr. Muir, when will tumult cease in this world that is so beautiful, but will long bear the scars of this wicked conflict? I am glad to tell you that we are only a few left to tell the tale, but we are now three, as Aunt Phi is home again, for a short time, as Mr. Foote and wife are living in San Jose, having sold their ranch and built a lovely new cottage, and Phi is invited to share it with them whenever she so wills, and she wills it very often, indeed is quite at home there.It looks as though I had written beyond my expectation. I hope you find time or inclination to respond. I hope one, or both of the dear girls will lend a hand and surprise me with a truly letter. Anyway, accept my love and good wishes to that end.Faithfully yours,Abbigail Allen.05903

Location

[place unknown]

Date Original

[1914 ?]

Source

Original letter dimensions unknown.

Resource Identifier

muir22_0855-let.tif

File Identifier

Reel 22, Image 0855

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 1