Creator

Sarah M. Galloway

Recipient

John Muir

Transcription

[1863] Fountain Lake April 29

My Dear Brother we received you letter and [likeness?] three or four weeks ago somehow you looked so sad and solemn I could not help crying over it but when I take into consideration the circumstances under which you had them taken I do not wonder you look so. when I think of Mrs Pelton it is as of one I know and love. when you had newly left home weary unwell and homesick many a time she was very kind to you though a stranger "a friend in need is a friend indeed" and this she has proved herself to you may she receive aboundant entrance into that rest prepared for those who by patient coutinuence in well doing seek for glory and h[illegible] and immortality. I was not thinking it was so near the time when you would be up again till David mentioned it last night he said to tell you he would be sure to come as far as Poignette to meet you if he was well so you must mention the exact time in your next letter, if you are bringing your trunk anyway be sure to fetch any sewing or mending you may have and I will see to it [illegible] and do this I hope your health is improving I am afraid



P.S. 4th May this has been waiting a few days on me, I am going into Portage tomorrow, and I merely want to say that I shall be sure to come and meet you this time unless something very extra happens, Sarah has told you that nobody seems to appreciate my benevolent offer however I am not yet despairing I have today sent a dozen Bills with Dan Smith to Milwaukee & Chicago, he was away most of the winter and came home to put in his crop and is now going off till harvest, they may meet the eye of some one, however John it becomes us in the meantime to get our part well for we know not what shall be on the morrow. good night John. yours truly Dan[iel?]







[1]

[2]

you are studying too hard you must not do this on my account for it will not help you any You must take more time for fun it will make you stronger and you will get along all the better for it. you know we all expect great things of you bye and bye if you keep your health so you must take good care of yourself mind that. how beautiful everything will be looking around the University to banks around you lovely Lake the flowers will be peeping out from under the withered leaves and grass and all the trees just putting forth their buds and leaves how pleasant it is to watch them and to think of that silent but mighty power that makes every thing spring to fresh life and vigor the most insignificant of His works when closely examined show his wisdom, when he has placed so much that is beautiful around us and shown so much skill in the formation of the tinniest flower it is surely never meant that we should pass them by without a glance or thought all his works whither the grand and sublime or the most simple and passing are for our consideration and study



[3]

Jane Mitchell and me took a wander round the Lake two or three weeks ago, further round than I have been since I was married we were at that steepest bank on the other side as we were coming home Jane found a very pretty [vine?] I never saw any like it before it trails along the ground and seems to take root as it goes along I will send you a little bit of it and as you are studying Botany you can tell me what it is I have part of it planted whither it will grow or not I do not know I hope it will I had my likness taken the last time I was at Portage but David does not like it very well he said if I could have it done again in summer and perhaps he would have his done at the same time I tried hard to get him to have his taken along with mine last time but could not prevail he said he would not like to see it, so you must excuse me at present and you will get it when you come up I would not be able to go to Portage just now anyway I have been quite unwell for some time back but I am growing stronger again




00325

[4]

I saw Father little more than a week ago he and Mother were about their usual but the girls had a bad cold Joanna was up at the Farm but as all the teams were busy getting in the grain she did not get over though she was there two weeks Mary & Anna were to be up too, it being their vacation but I did not see any of them Maggie keeps wonderful well for her and then she has such a good quite baby her little Jessie but Annie Father says is one of the most mischevious little things he ever saw put her out of one thing and she will laugh in your face and go into the next mischief she can see but as Father says they all bear with her she is so little David has been sowing oats this morning his wheat is all in he is working away as usual no one seems to want his Farm he has been putting in more apple trees the two big oak trees are cut down and the rows filled out. we had a letter from Dan the same day we got your last he was well he gets small wages but he seems to be in good spirits and expects to get more soon our little ones are well romping about most of the time expecting to hear from you soon I remain your affectionate sister Sarah Galloway



497


Location

Fountain Lake, [Wisc]

Circa Date

[1863] Apr 29

Source

Original letter dimensions: 18.5 x 39.5 cm

Resource Identifier

muir01_0517-let.tif

File Identifier

Reel 01, Image 0517

Collection Identifier

Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc

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

Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.

Pages

3 pages

Keywords

Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters

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