Creator
Joanna [Muir]
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]
We had planned that as Anna has been staying with Mary for some time and is needed there, we could have mother stay with us, which she had with pleasure consented to do, and so make up house keeping entirely, and then when we came here we used all our powers of language to induce father to come too that we might have the great pleasure of taking care of both in their old age, but unhappily we could not persuade him. Now if it were not that our Father always provides a way, I would be very much troubled, for certain it is, father can never be left again in his present condition, but I am praying that his
[1]
[in margin: Our address is - Cor. of Queen and Robinson sts. Hamilton Ontario, Can.]
Hamilton, Can. July 1st 1880.
Dear John: —
You will be surprised to know that I am here with father in this far away country of the Queen but I have not given up my allegiance to Uncle Sam as I do not intend staying here always. Some time ago father was taken sick from a severe cold and sent for me to come to him accordingly I packed up at once and arrived in Hamilton four weeks ago today. I was pleasantly surprised however to find him nearly recovered
[Page 2]
[2]
He is now pretty well but is still encumbered by a crutch and a cane. I cannot become accustomed to see father thus crippled and I think he at last begins to realize that he is growing old. He seems very happy to have me here and is suited with everything I do thus far, but he is just the same man he has ever been and by this you know just what I mean. I must now inform you on another subject — I am engaged to be married to a man in Phillips and may perhaps give up my good Scotch name in the [fall?]. Mr Brown, for that is his name, had just come down to Portage to visit when
[3] 00931
I received the letter from father and so insisted on accompanying me here, as he [feared?] the long trip and then the care of father, if he were very sick, would be to much for me alone and so before his return we went to Niagara Falls where we spent part of a day very pleasantly and profitably. I shall not here attempt my description, but I will say that I could not help wishing that I could have seem them years ago before man had so utterly spoiled the surroundings. Have you ever visited them? I believe however that I have not finished the subject with which I started out,
[5] 00931
mind may be changed and that he may feel differently toward us all. I would not be unwilling to stay some time with father, but in all probability he may be very many years in this world yet and I could not stay always. Please write me very soon and tell me if you can arrange your affairs to be with us, with your wife, about the beginning of September, There is a good deal of satisfaction in playing tit for tat and so I might perhaps not have told you for a long time yet about my own affairs but was so anxious to have you come that I had to give you time to make your arrangements accordingly. Father received your letter and seemed pleased to hear from you. Much love to yourself and your wife Joanna.
Location
Hamilton, Can[ada]
Date Original
1880 Jul 1
Source
Original letter dimensions: 20.5 x 25.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Muir, Joanna, "Letter from Joanna [Muir] to John Muir, 1880 Jul 1." (1880). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 565.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/565
Resource Identifier
muir04_0234-md-1.pdf
File Identifier
Reel 04, Image 0233
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
