Creator
Joanna [Muir Brown]
Recipient
[Mary Muir Hand]
Transcription
[4]
about it but of course realizes the helplessness of us all to do any thing [in?] the [case?]. He has written me two letters, By the way, in one of my letters to him I spoke of our being in a strait between two opinions, as to whether it was best to leave our little one sleeping in her present quiet resting place and make it as beautiful as possible or to place the precious dust where others of our kindred would likely be laid, He replied about as [follows?], “If my advice can be of any value I would think it much better to leave it as it is at least while Mary is there to keep the flowers fresh upon it” This of late has been more and more my own thought
[1]
[circled: 23]
[in margin: Did you see the piece of the chair which I sent? I forgot to say that this trimming on the front of the [illegible] dress is only about the length of a bib in length, a little longer. Father is sitting on the lounge and sends love. Do write soon Joanna]
Jefferson Ark. June 7. ’82.
Dearest Sister:-
I see it is nearly a month since the writing of your last letter and I certainly must answer without further delay. I did not intend being so long in telling you more about father, although we could hope for only a small congregation Walter decided to build a little house for him to speak in and try to get enough together to interest him, W. did not tell him before hand what his purpose was, thinking it would
[in square: 2]
[Page 2]
[2]
have more effect to wait until he enquired what the building was for and then tell him, but when he saw the frame going up and in answer to his inquiring was told that it was for him and that he could have it made just to suit himself, he became some what excited and said it was of no use as he could now see plainly that the Lord had not intended him to work here and that be could not go to battle alone. He said that if this had been his field there would have been more [people?] accessible to him in his condition and so the building
[3]
had to be turned into a little school house which was very necessary, Father however consented to stay with us until August when some note of his becomes due, This was his own proposition which of course we were very glad of hoping that some thing may occur to change his mind. We never mentioned yours and Willis’ letter and I would not have known who it was from but for the address John wrote him a similar letter I suppose and concerning it he was also silent. John is very much exces[illegible]
[Page 3]
23
[8]
I was going to send you some flowers but I guess perhaps my envelope is full enough for this time I wish, I wish, I wish you could see the magnolia blossom fresh and pure and beautiful, Oh I cant tell you what a thrill of pleasure went over me when I saw the sweet thing, Mary I love flowers, When I come home I intend to bring a nice collection for you to see, Water is so good about bringing me specimens. Give [deleted: my] our kindest regards to Mrs Hunt and tell her we were much pleased to see the notice of her buy in the paper I hope she is well. I had a nice good letter from Mrs Turner, I must answer before she goes east. [all of heart?] sends love and love to you Mary, A kiss for the letter almost two year old, and love to Willis.
[5]
and I have wished that some sweet little flowers such as Scotch daisies pink and white and any sweet little flowers which you think appropriate perhaps some forget me not would be pretty and one shrub of snow d[illegible]. I would like the most white flower If without too much trouble you could plant them [on?] [illegible]we would of course gladly make returns for anything you had to send for, and I know without being told that you will like to do it if you are only well. The enclosed is the edging on one of the little [nighgowns?], and a penciling of the tucking
[Page 4]
[6]
just as it is on the front, two tucks on each side straight and a little strip of bias tucking on each side. I was thinking it might perhaps look prettier in the picture than the plain dress, but if you think otherwise or have that part already finished some other way, I am not at all particular. Walter had a very pleasant letter from Mr [illegible]ell the other day who reports you all well and very prosperous. We were glad to hear from them. We are having a piazza built on our little house and the carpenter makes out to keep up a very substantial noise but I am about used to it
[7]
for he has been hammering at the other side of the house for two weeks making a kitchen pantry & little store room, these are separated from the other part of the house by an open hall (roofed over head) which Willis will describe to you, It is true Southern style and a great comfort in warm days, we set our table there to eat and feel very aristocratic, Walter says he will hang a hammock in it for me to laze in when it is very warm. The weather is still [illegible]ably cool and delightful I really do not believe we will need to go North this year
Location
Jefferson, Ark.
Date Original
1882 Jun 7
Source
Original letter dimensions unknown.
Recommended Citation
Brown, Joanna Muir, "Letter from Joanna [Muir Brown] to [Mary Muir Hand], 1882 Jun 7." (1882). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 709.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/709
Resource Identifier
muir04_0859-md-1.pdf
File Identifier
Reel 04, Image 0858
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
John Muir National Historic Site. 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
