Creator
Joanna [Muir Brown]
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]We are still here at mothers, waiting for Walter to accomplish his R.R. and Trust Co. work at Philadelphia, He has had many discouragements and many unforeseen difficulties to contend with but he remains undaunted and says he must and will succeed, He made a flying trip to K.C. last week, arriving there in the morning and returning to Phila. in the evening of the same day, He went to the house which is still closed and reports everything undisturbed.[1]Portage WisDec. 8, 1889Dearest brother John:-Your long letter to Annie which came this moring, and which I have had the pleasure and pain of reading gives us too clear an idea of the much work physical and mental and no play, which is yours at present. Over work of one
[2]
kind or another and overtaxed nerves has been and is such a common complaint in our family, and for so long a time we considered you the grand exception to the curse, standing as you do on a higher plane, cooling your brow in the pure mountain air and feasting your soul on the absorbing study of sweet soothing nature, untrameled by either the love, or the fear of society and its folly; that it makes our hearts ache to think of you as
[3]
tired or worried by the vexatious botherations of ordinary mortals. But it seems that they who comfort others do sometimes themselves need comforting, and how I wish I had the power. We can at least assure you of much true sisterly love and appreciation of your work. (I wish I could see more of your writing) and we can also pray the good Father to be with you and bless you with His peace, and rest of soul.
01386
(5)
I do not yet know when we shall leave here but think all will be settled satisfactorily before very long. Now I am going to tell you about our little baby Bernice. She is now three months old, and over, and is as sweet and healthy a blue eyed girl as any one could wish. We had hoped for a brown eyed boy like the one who left us but now we think we could not have been better suited
[6]
Grandma holds her for an hour at a time talking to here and smiling at her sweet baby ways. They all think they cannot do without her now. I send a picture of Jessie which was taken in the summer, Please tell Louie it is for her with my love and kindest wishes, I think Louie's life and mine must be much the same for the little girlies take our minds and our hearts and our time.
[7]
Dear John I received your very kind letter of last summer but was not at the time well enough to reply. I shall not look for any letter from you at present for you have enough other writing to do and we have news of you now from Annie's letter but I will try to write again before very long. Love to your sweet little Wanda and Helen.
Affectionately
Joanna
01386
Location
Portage, Wisc
Date Original
1889 Dec 8
Recommended Citation
Brown, Joanna Muir, "Letter from Joanna [Muir Brown] to John Muir, 1889 Dec 8" (1889). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 1870.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/1870
Resource Identifier
muir06_0302-ad-1
File Identifier
MSS 307 Muiriana
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
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
4 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
