Letter from John Muir to [Annie] Wanda [Muir], 1893 Jun 20.

[1][letterhead][in margin: The Thyme was very sweet]New York, June 20 1893Dear Wanda I got your nice letter yesterday It was dated June 12. I was feeling very lonesome not getting any letters from home for so long. I suppose you will say that you thought I would be away, & that therefore it would be no use to write. But I think I told you all that it would not matter whether I was away because Mr Johnson would forward them wherever I went. It has been & is very hot here & I always feel anxious about Helen in hot weather especially when the fruit is ripe, & might make her sick or cause toothache. So you may know I was very glad to know that she was well, & all of you & glad to hear that grandma is better. In this hot weather she [2]ought not to go about so much. It is ten o\u27clock at night here just now & the temperature is 90°. . & it was 98° at 3 o\u27clock & damp chokey & sultry. Still I stand it pretty well, as well as the New York people Everybody that can afford it has gone away I will soon be cool enough for next Saturday at noon I will sail for Liverpool on the Etruria. I thought of going on the Adriatic which sails tomorrow, but I found that I will get to Liverpool as soon on Etruria though she starts three days later. She sails so much faster. I dont know where Mr Keith is. He went away two weeks ago. Maybe I\u27ll meet him in Scotland. John Burroughs is not going. So I\u27ll be lonely as Paddy Grogan, though Mr Johnson has not allowed me to be lonesome here except about Helen. I\u27m glad you took in Elfie. That was sensible. I told you to do that long ago. I dont mean to go in dangerous places, & I\u27m going to hurry back as soon as I can. Here is a picture of Walden Pond016882 [3] that I think is pretty good. & I think you should keep it. Beautiful trees & flowers grow there & the water is clear, & all the banks are shady & leafy Some day you & mama & Helen will go there. & see where Thoreau lived & Emerson So much greener & fresher & calmer than Martinez is, & so many good & great people lived there. The Elm trees in particular are large & graceful. But it must be pretty cold & dreary in winter time Be sure to tell Helen not to eat sour cherries. You must take good care of your little sister when I am away I have five letters of introduction to people in Europe & I suppose I will soon feel at home. The ship I am going to sail on is a very fine one. So you need not be afraid of storms. My! How hot it is, Both my coat & vest are off & yet the perspiration flowing as if I were made of snow.01688 [4][letterhead]Tell mama I\u27ll give a new address as soon as I know it. In the meantime it is Johnson, The Century [illegible] Give my love to mama & grandma & many kisses to Midge. I wonder what I can bring you folks when I come home, I must get something nice Remember me to Dave & Ette - & Maggie & May & all the Reids - I suppose Maggie & May miss me very much & so does Lou if she is still at the ranch, for they have nobody now to tease them poor things. Tell May & Lou only servant girls broil their hair in N.Y. I tease Mr Johnson a good deal, but he teases back & I have to be careful[in margin: now good night my dear Wanda. Tell Helen & [Marie?] Ill write soon