Creator
Cornelius B. Bradley
Recipient
John Muir,Wanda & Helen Muir
Transcription
Berkeley, christmas Day, 1905
Mr. Muir, Miss Wanda & Helen Muir:
Dear Friends:
On this glad day of friendship and of reunions my thoughts turn instinctively to you in your exile and loneliness, and I cannot forbear sending you my greeting - too late indeed to be of avail in brightening this day, mournful and lonely as it is, I fear, but a greeting warm and sincere in its goodwill, which will not come amiss, I hope, on any day. I greatly appreciated Mr. Muir's letter of Nov. 8, and rejoiced in its more hopeful news of Helen's state, and its indirect indication that his own spirit was gradually recovering its normal tone, and that his thoughts were turning again to that best medicine and solace of aching hearts - if only they can take it! - work. - And Wanda, loving and efficient, the prop and support the other two, as I picture her, and ministering to either according to his special need; how glad we all are that her fine strength and steadfast heart are there to help you through! We want to know more about you all from time to time, as any one of you can find time and heart to write us a few lines.
Mrs. Bradley is really much better; she went to church for the second time yesterday, and was not the worse
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Prof Bradley
for it. Today we have two old friends to sit down with us to a quiet dinner. But we have to be very careful to avoid for her all excitement and overdoing. Oddly enough, her greatest delight and distraction now, and a thing that seems to do her most good, is an automobile ride. Think of that for simple-hearted folks like us! Bertha is well, and is being rapidly put out of commission by her mother's rapid encroachment on the duties and cares which she assumed last summer. As for me, I seem to be sucked ever deeper and deeper into the vortex of work, which seems to shut out more and more my view of things elsewhere. While the work grows in amount, I have a sickening feeling that the scope of it, and the efficiency of it in my little world is not growing equally with it; and I know not how to mend the matter. Just now, for example, I can not hope to get any refreshment out of this holiday recess, as I need to do, or any chance for quiet thought to orient myself. This wretched concourse of five thousand teachers here, and the preparation of a Berkeley Club paper for January, will consume all my time and strength until work begins again. I wish I might have a whiff of mountain air with you there! Physically I am well, but spiritually a little o'erwearied with the endless struggle which seems to bring me into no place of quiet pastures and still waters. But never mind. It is much to be able to work at all. Goodbye, dear friends, God keep you! Sometime "will tak'a cup o' kindness yet, For Auld Lang Syne!"
Sincerely yours,
Cornelius B. Bradley
Location
Berkeley [Calif.]
Date Original
1905-12-25 0:00
Source
Original letter dimensions: 28 x 21.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Bradley, Cornelius B., "Letter from Cornelius B. Bradley to John Muir,Wanda & Helen Muir, 1905 Dec 25." (1905). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 3456.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/3456
Resource Identifier
muir15_0863-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 15, Image 0863
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
