Creator
Sarah [Muir Galloway]
Recipient
[Daniel and Emma Muir]
Transcription
[4]
old scholars Emma, he wrote to John asking permission to come and visit him at a given date, so John met him at the Depot., his home is at Riverside Cal. when he has resided for about fifteen years, he told us that his mother was the first one to introduce you, and how glad she would be to hear of you both, I had the pleasure of showing him your Photo's, which I received from you Dan. they interested him very much. I just wished that I had had more of them. I saw him at dinner and John told him he ought to see Daniel too so we came over in the afternoon, I staid here then, he was
[1]
Martinez Cal.
Feb 21st. 1900
Dear Brother & Sister
I have not heard from any of your family since coming here and I am wondering how you have all been getting on through these winter days. Having been with you so lately I seem to understand how each one will be so busily employed in their own special line of work. Since coming here I have been at John's the greater part of the time. From there I can walk across to where Maggie is living often, I usually go there about three times a week and try to help her a little, for though
[in margin: these violets I gathered near the door here, they are not pressed very prettily but they are fragrant]
[2]
often so nervously tired and weary she is as of old ambitious and willing to do more than she ought. She has her house work, her flowers, out of doors, and a few chickens that she takes care of. She cannot bear to think of keeping help and so with John's help now and again she keeps everything in her usual order. May lives very near to her, and that baby Miriam is her Grandmother's pet. I am here at Daniel's just now again for a few days, they have a pretty place here, and are very busy people, they have three hired men who have their meals in the house, though they do not sleep there, (the mens house is close by.) Will [Muir?] came out here a short time since and
[3]
seemed to go right into Ranche work, if he can take things in a moderate way it may be a good thing for him, he has been doing bookkeeping mostly for a long time, but the out of door work seems to agree with and he is looking better I think already. Both David and [Ette?] have to take things easier now. after so much hard work, David oversees everything outside, and [Ette?] has good help in the house and so things are easier for her even though she has her [part?]. I think it will be nice if Will. likes the work as David will like to have him here. Last week we had the pleasure of a visit from your friend of long ago, Mr Love, one of your
[8]
to work short hours and keep her eyes bandaged some of the time. She has gained in weight considerably. I had a letter from Annie L. yesterday, she says that she has been spitting blood a little each month lately, she says there is not any pain specially but her throat and lungs are somewhat sore at the time, but likely she has told you. David and Ette wish to be remembered. Daniel says that [Hamish?] ought to write to him, I too am anxious to hear from you Perhaps Sarah might find a few minutes, it would be a pleasure to me. I often think of them all and know how much they have to take up their time and attention. Give my love to them all. I [earnestly?] hope that you Emma are now enjoying better health and are able to be out a little Dan, write to me.
Lovingly Sarah
[5]
to be at John's over night, he seems to travel for something or other. He told me to give you his kindest regards also the same from his Mother. Both David and I thought he resembled Mr Wisely in some ways, as Mr W looked long years ago. Ploughing is going on here and the almond trees are in full bloom, but the other Orchard trees have not leafed out yet, but the grass in many places is so long it had to be mown, and many of the birds have come, some that are familiar and others that I do not know. We wanted to get some wild flowers and ferns so Helen and I climed one of the hills near
[6]
the house, at home we would call it a mountain, after we were part way up and had gathered so many of the lovely spring flowers and beautiful ferns, some I had never seen before, I said I am going to the top, so after a good many rests I stood on the highest part and what a beautiful view we had, the Valleys with vineyards and orchards with Martinez in the distance and the Bay beyond, then [Benicia?] on the other side, and the hills and mountains far away beyond that. Something would surprise you here and that is seeing the vines and orchard trees growing so far up on the hill sides, and so steep that the
[7]
men and horses have hard work to keep their footing while ploughing and yet the soil is such that things do well. Dan you said that "I would not do much climbing for a while," and you were right, that hill I climbed was the first since I have been here, but as I am usually well now I hope that it will not be the last. for I want to get the [views?] beyond them all around the place, and there are a good many. I suppose you will hear from Grace once in a while. she seems to be getting much better. her eyes seem to be a special difficulty now, she has had to commence wearing glasses, she has had
[9]
P.S.
After my letter was closed I felt I must tell you about some of the things that are growing in the door yard here. Sarah you are a botanist I wish you could see the English Ivy that grows at the corner of the Piazza, one of the trunks is good nine inches around and another a little less, the vine covers one side of the wide [Porch?] runs over the top, up on the roof of the house and is part way up on the chimney then it runs along the front and over the balcony, passing through the side of the house some way and is running along the wall of the room inside making beauty there as well also stretching out and running up on the house inside of the Porch. Remember this is not in little sprays but in great heavy masses stading about six feet high on
[10]
the top of the Porch and roof. Then on the other side of the house the roses which will soon be white with blossom climbs over the porch and away up on the roof of the house at one end. there is also the rose tower over the water tank that is another wonder. Then there is an Oleander growing in the front yard ten or eleven feet high with ten or twelve stalks branching from the roof which will be another mass of bloom after a time. then there is an Olive tree, the fan leaf, and date Palms, also a great Pepper tree & a red wood at the front door, or [illegible] a young [Sequoia?] taller than the house, a cork Oak and many other things. I hope that sometime you may be here and see them for yourself. This is such a different looking country from what I have been acquainted with I find many things to enjoy and take note of.
[Aunt?] Sarah
Location
Martinez, Calif.
Date Original
1900 Feb 21
Source
Original letter dimensions unknown.
Recommended Citation
Galloway, Sarah Muir, "Letter from Sarah [Muir Galloway] to [Daniel and Emma Muir], 1900 Feb 21 ." (1900). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 4241.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/4241
Resource Identifier
muir11_0103-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 11, Image 0103
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
The Huntington Library, Muir Family Papers, HM 57349-57497. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Pages
6 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
