Creator
[John Muir]
Recipient
[David and Sarah Galloway]
Transcription
[4]
This doubtless caused the [illegible] to fall with move extreme force As far as vision is con- cerned here is all for two or three days it was quite gone. then a little came which increased for a few days, which amount remained unchanged for about three weeks, it then increased and is increasing now I can recognize my friends and even read two pages of poetry this afternoon. I keep it shut and shaded yet, but hope to see a good deal with it yet when the [illegible]ation is quite away I had a second doctor said to be very skillful who told me that the iris was injured and that my chances of distinct vision was not good Now Sarah & David if last you are the only ones who have got a full copy of this sad chapter of my life -
00405
[1]
Ind' Apr 12th 67
Dear Brother and sister
Your precious sympathy reached me last Tuesday I am now fairly above water again. I got well all at once a week ago, and am now gaining strength very fast This week I have been up town, out in the woods, and among the shop machinery and have invented & made another original clock for a society of boys who read to me in my darkness I also read several books All in these last four days so you see I may report myself well I hope to work in a week or two
[2]
now that I have fairly come to my senses, here is my case. I pierced my eye to an unknown [drawing of an eye with writing: position & [illegible] size of wound outer angle of right eye] depth just where the transparent & [illegible] parts meet about a half teaspoonful of the aqueous or [illegible] fluid escaped At the time of the accident I could not feel any pain or any faintness for the tremend- ous thought glared full upon me that I had lost my right eye I was before a window. I closed my left eye and opened the injured one with my fingers. The fluid fell on my hand and I saw the light slowly & utterly leave it as I thought forever. I could gladly have died where I stood because I thought I never would have heart to look at the flowers & fields
[3]
again. I was begged a ride home but I walked about 1/4 mile. I kept up about four hours. The doctor came & pronounced the eye lost . I was borne down at last and went to bed where I had to remain four weeks My days were terrible be- young what I can tell and my nights were if possible more terrible, frightful dreams, exhausted & terrified me every night without exception . I could scarce feel more com- pletely a new man than now had I arisen from the grave but the cup is removed and I am alive For some weeks before I was hurt I worked very hard and read & studied till about midnight or beyond it
Location
Ind[ianapolis, Ind.]
Source
Original letter dimensions: 20.5 x 25.0 cm
Recommended Citation
Muir, John, "Letter from John Muir to David and Sarah Galloway, 1867 Apr 12" (1867). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 1231.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/1231
Resource Identifier
muir01_1006-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 01, Image 1006
Copyright Status
Copyrighted
Copyright Statement
The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust. To purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish or exhibit them, click here to view the Holt-Atherton Special Collections policies.
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.
Copyright Holder
Muir-Hanna Trust
Copyright Date
1984
Pages
2 pages
