Creator
[Mary Muir ?]
Recipient
[Daniel H. Muir]
Transcription
[4]
with many a repentant word for his past [illegible]atination, and a promise that each year should be the threshold of home be pressed by his returning footsteps and that at least a monthly document from his hand should be placed in the hand of the home circle. Therefore a more hopeful goodbye was said, and again his face was turned from home. For a time, they were cheered by the frequent arrival of messengers so welcome, and so heartily received and per[illegible]ed, when written by the loved and absent, But alas for the frailty of human nature; again their number began sadly to decline, to wane, to grow fewer, and shorter; and soon the anniversary of his visit home arrived, and his return was expected, but expected in vain, those sisters wondered and surmised; surmised and wondered why he made not his appearance, plans, projects, and adventures welled up in their minds, which they longed to pour into the confiding ear of a brother; but even worse then this, letters left that circle for him which received no response; and at this time three or four months have fled by and brought no messenger from Michigan. Written by the Right Hand
[1]
Hickory Hill, Apr. 16th 1867.
Take Notice
Away in the depths of the far western forests; remote from the haunts of civilization, where the original inhabitants of the woods held undisputed sways slumbered a peaceful little lake; upon its borders as if by magic there arose a fonderous structure, such as had never before been seen in those parts, and forth with the steel of the pioneer was heard and the mighty monarchs of the forest bowed low and kissed the earth beneath its spell; but a still more wonderous phenomenon then all this appeared, from the glassy surface of that little lake were reflected, the features of a juvenile fraternal land, Years rolled by on the wings of time, and still the [illegible] of light smiled upon the same scene, unchanged since that the forests still yielded to the hand of the C[illegible]- ian, calling forth the smile of satisfaction and gratitude for the wealth of golden grain which raised its head in its place; still that land of brother and sister was unbroken; still the shouts of glee and peaks of laughter [reached or echoed?] from cliff, and hillside, - But time is but [illegible] name for change, and naught can withstand [illegible] [iron?]
[2]
grass; the fairest scene must have its end, and one of the number of which this family was composed, gave to each hand the parting pressure and pronounced the word "goodbye": Another another and still another followed, till only the four youngest olive branches, surrounded the parental harth, and those cling to each other with renewed affection since their number was thus reduced, Then a few undisturbed summers sped oer their heads bearing in their bosom another farewell; the oldest of that land saw the unerring finger of duty point out his path mid strangers, twas hard for those sisters thus to part with their last remaining brother, the sharer of their childish sports and of the studdies of later years but duties voice must be obeyed, and the goodbye was spoken and he turned his face from home among strangers to roam, but the hearts of the remnant trio were cheered by numerous assurances of a speedy return, and of numberless white winged messengers which should speed their flight from his abode to theirs, bearing all his hopes joys and sorrows recorded; with this assurance they were in a measure cheered, For a time those messengers made their timely appearance
[3]
but alas, they began to come more seldom and far and further between; Often and often the postmaster was obliged to pronounce the little [illebible]osyllable "no", then said they some dreadfull calamity must have befallen him, alas! alas! and misfortune in many a shape and form presented itself to their disturbed immagineation but soon a short epistle would make its welcome appearance; dispelling all our doubts and feers, they then began to long earnestly for his return home, but month after month flew by and still no returning brother, thus weeks and months winged their flight till years more numbered three since that parting scene, and then was recorded a joyful meeting, the long absent brother had at last returned, grown only more manly and brave in general appearance otherwise the same brother that had left them, bright and happy were the months he passed at home, many were the scenes recounted on both sides which had transpired since they had last seen each other. But again the wander- ing bird must say "goodbye", but this time
Location
Hickory Hill [Wisc.]
Date Original
1867 Apr 10
Recommended Citation
Muir, Mary, "Letter from Mary Muir ? to Daniel H. Muir, 1867 Apr 10" (1867). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 1230.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/1230
Resource Identifier
muir01_1002-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 01, Image 1002
Collection Identifier
Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc
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
The Huntington Library. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Pages
2 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
