Calkins, J.E., Page 4

entertain us, and, finally, to hope that we would come to California again, to make his IttHv our home as long as we could stay, with other cordial and captivating things. As one ITature-lover to another that letter was all that could mm have been desired; as one stranger to another mifea it wad exquisitely heart-wanning. I had never had a letter like it before, and I have never had one like it since. Of course there were more letters, bridging over many months; then, on an unforgetable day in October, I9o7, we were being greeted by John Muir himself; bare-headed, out in front of the big white house; looking as we had been expecting he would look; smiling the welcome we had hoped he would give us. By every friendly token of countenance, and word and manner our welcome was as genuine, and our host as unaffectedly sincere and cordial as we had been hoping, but it was hard for me to believe that it was actually happening. All clear details of that afternoon and evening have been blurred by the attrition of 35 years, but I know 4@\u3e passed in the pleasant process of getting acquainted. Mrs. Muir had gone; only Mr. Muir and Helen were there, attempting to fill those spacious high-ceilinged rooms with the atmosphere of home. .Bereft of that lovely presence/ it was not difficult to understand that they were lonesome enough to be glad of any friendly visitor; but frora t ill lr8t ra°m0\u3elt ( \u27https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmr-all/1109/thumbnail.jp