Creator
Annie K. Bidwell
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]
My heart is sorely grieved for you, and for the dear daughters, and I wish them to feel that I want to be one of their friends as well as the friend of their father whom General, and all of us, so love and honor.
"The Lord bless thee, and keep thee : The Lord make His face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee : The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give the peace."
Numbers 10: 24-26.
My sister & husband are with me & unite with me in sorrow for you & yours.
Yours most sincerely,
Annie K. Bidwell
[1]
Rancho Chico, Cal.
Aug. 1905.
Dear Mr Muir.
We are overwhelmed with sorrow, and know not how to form words wherewith to express to you our sympathy in your great grief, and with the dear daughters.
Your cup is surely full to overflowing, and my prayer is that our great and loving God will strengthen you as He has strengthened me in hours of darkness, yes of perfect black
03597
[2]
ness, when not even a star seemed to shine to comfort.
For a few days after General went I had strength for every duty, but suddenly a change came over me and I had to be shut off from every person, however dear, and see but two persons, one at night, the other during the day, but only when medicine or nourishment had to be brought to me. There must be no change in the two attendants, either. The doctor said my pulse could not be felt nor
[3]
the beating of my heart heard. The doctor said implicit obedience was obligatory, or I would not live until arrival of my sister; and that was not assured that I could with every care. However, I did live, and during those days of physical weakness God's loving presence was most wonderfully manifested. Someday I will tell you more about them.
For two years I suffered with my head, and longer, in bodily infirmity, but God never deserted me. He did not remove the cross but gave power to bear it.
Location
Rancho Chico, Calif.
Date Original
1905-08-06 0:00
Source
Original letter dimensions: 17 x 25 cm.
Recommended Citation
Bidwell, Annie K., "Letter from Annie K. Bidwell to John Muir, 1905 Aug 6." (1905). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 3379.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/3379
Resource Identifier
muir15_0629-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 15, Image 0629
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
2 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
