Recipient

Bade, William Frederic

Transcription

181 California St. Huntington Park, California August 17, 1923 William Frederic Badè, 2616 College Ave. Berkeley, California My dear Dr. Badè: Youre to my daughter Marjorie came to this address in due time. I immediately wrote to her to look among some of my things in my Pacific Grove house and see if she could find any letters from Uncle John Muir. We have lived in so many different places that letters, which otherwise might have been kept, are lost altogether. So these two, which I am inclosing, are all that could be found. The first, as you will see, is from Indianapolis, and I think it must have been about that time he sent me a little box of paints and brushes to color my pictures with. The other has no date but it would seem as if it were written at holiday time of that first year in California. Being the eldest of the Muir grandchildren, and my home in the early years being the Fountain Lake farm which my father bought from my Grandfather Muir in 1856, I have some quite clear recollections of Uncle John even before he went to Madison. For he used to come and visit my mother and I would trudge about with him as a little child will do. When I was about four years of age he made me a little wagon, and as I think back I am sure that it was all of wood; axles, wheels, tongue and all. It was my constant companion in all my solitary trips about the place hunting “pretty stones” and wild flowers. When “My Boyhood and Youth” came out, I got one, of course, and it brought back so many incidents of childhood days, which, though not altogether forgotten, were be coming somewhat hazy. For did I not know just where to go to find wind flowers, anemones, violets, columbine, etc., and the kind of a place to look for the different birds’ nests-robin, blackbird, brown thrush, mourning dove, I even found a whip-poor-will’s nest on one of my excursions. And didn’t I sit on the top of “Bur-Oak Shanty” beside him and watch him draw that picture of Fountain Lake; also when he drew the one of “The First Wisconsin Home”? The Hickory Hill place by the time I was old enough to remember it was much changed from the way from the way it looks in Uncle John’s drawing. The house had been added to, and Grandfather had made a good driveway, set a hedge in front, and of course had made flower beds and garden, and set out a fine orchard. From the time I was a little child to the time I was grown I was accustomed occasionally to spend a few days, or weeks & happily visiting my Grandfather and Grandmother Muir, and recently I was delighted to received photographs, postcard size, of the Hickory Hill house and of the old barn where I used to play as they appear at the present time. There was also one of Fountain Lake. You will pardon, I am sure, my not answering yours sooner, but Marjorie only returned from her northern trip a few days ago, bringing these letters with her. I do not know if they will be at all valuable to you, but send them in case you are interested. You can return them. Thanking you for the pleasure it gave Marjorie to visit you in your home recently, I am Very truly yours, Anna Galloway Eastman

Location

Huntington Park, California

Date Original

1923-08-17

Resource Identifier

MSS048 Va.10

Copyright Statement

Some material related 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.

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