Creator

Julia [Merrill] Moores

Recipient

John Muir

Transcription

[4]

mournful tale of the ages - yet never for one moment have I grown weary of it - but love it as a type of its Maker. to my Soul it has given health & strength but sometimes I am afraid my body is almost worn out. I do not allow myself to think this often - for I must like [illegible] my children. Should I go - you will always love them I know.- God grant they may be all that father & mother have prayed they might be! I have not spoken this to any one - and everything that [underline: will] can do to make me strong - I shall do. I thank you again for all your assu rances of love for Merrill. I shall probably stay here thro' the month - and think you had better not send any more letters here after you receive this - but send to 170 E. [Mesville?] St. Indianapolis. If I change my mind & remain in New England this winter - I will let you know immediately. I have written to [M's?] uncle that if all deemed best Merrill could go to him at Salem in November


















[1]

Nantucket 9th Sept. 1872

My Dear Mr Muir.

Last night's [mail?] brought me your kind letter of the 24th Aug. How much gratification I felt at its contents. I can scarcely express. It did me good like a medicine! Weak and worthless as I am, I climbed with you, to the top of Mt Tyell - the 13,000 ft. were nothing to me. I stood with you & looked off, and felt in my soul all its sublimity. I thank you for all you tell me of Merrill - & of the assurances you give me that he does not annoy you in your researches. I have been very much distressed lest his noisy talk might be a serious hindrance to you- but I will not let it trouble me any more.

[in margin: This arrangement will give him about the same time with his Uncles he has spent with you. - I must not write more. [Janet C. send?] love. Affectionately Julia Moores]

[2]

I cannot write you much of a letter - and what I write will I fear be disjointed & scattering but you will put up with it & be thankful perhaps - when you know that I am better & getting to be able to write for the first time in the last month. It has been a great trail to me not to write to you & Merrill. - that you tell me of M's tardiness. I understand only too well - and care not how severe you are with him - if any thing you can do will startle him out of it - I shall be only too thankful. I think he has needed more sternness - more severity than I have been able to give him. He has felt the loss of his dear father - without being conscious of it. God grant he may be able to overcome this fault.





















00613

[3]

I am happy and content in the thought of your being together, & I am gland that you are taking him away from the valley & away from humanity into the wilderness - where even John the Baptist & Christ himself dwelt for days & years. - I am still in this quiet sand- hill. Sister Kate has left me & is before this at home - tho' I have not heard of her arrival there. Janet & Charles I kept as I could not bear to be separated from them. I have been very ill but my physiccian says I am improving & I feel that I must stay here until the warm weather at home is all gone. So I sit now in my room I look out on the sea - I never tire of it - it is always more & more beautiful. I have walked on the beach - sat in the sand - listened by the hour toils -

Location

Nantucket

Date Original

1872 Sep 9

Source

Original letter dimensions: 20.5 x 25.5 cm.

Resource Identifier

muir02_0893-let.tif

File Identifier

Reel 02, Image 0893

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

2 pages

Keywords

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

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