Letter from John Muir to Daniel H. Muir, 1866 ca. Aug 12

[4]upon anything else - we have moved to a small brick house one square south and two each of the shop - [Daty?] & Stokes are still here Stokes wishes you to find a place for him, A long, very long legged Yankee [illegible] your saws, he wishes to escape to some super terranean position first chance - I recd a letter from Mother a few days ago, David has been telling her that this place is unhealthy. I also read one from Dane, he is made ruling elder in the presby- terian church. I have not yet read any letter from Ball for you Mrs [Reaves?] sends her best respects, so also do I together with heartfelt desires for your happiness Goodbye from J. M So write soon Dan[1] [Aug 12 [illegible] 7 Sep 2[illegible] Indianap\u27 Ind 1[illegible] SundayDear Dan, I was glad to receive your last short as it was, but words have liked a little more. You almost set me wild with your ferns although you did tell your story in so humorous & unbotanical a style, with your both eyes shut and one open I could see your beautiful forests of waving ferns in the deep shade of these tall trees untill I felt as though I must leave the shop and see them. And now Dan, none of your nonsense about them, but set yourself diligently to collect specimens of those you think I have not seen for me, and of all for yourself. Fill an [2]envelope with small portions of printed specimens as soon as you can for me and I will get full specimens af- terwards. I am glad you got into a shop that suited you so well, I think that you are on the right bus- iness track now, endeavor to get your Ball to roll into some similar establishment and turn & wheel till he can turn himself. Now are you getting along at the lathe. How do you turn broom handles, is the broom end of the handle put on a centre or on a socket. What kind of timber do you use - how much do you turn [illegible] & where do you find a [illegible]. What wages do you, or are you to get. What will they [illegible] per thousand for turning[3]of handles, write me a long letter soon, Do not work so hard as to run yourself into the ground. Your prophecy concerning Osgood & Smith is not yet accomplished - I am taking it easier now all of my lumber is brought in now and sawed off for me - the weatheir too is cool and I begin to feel much better My [Icy the?] is at last finished and the drawings etc will soon be disposed of. I will soon have the cattle under way I mean to set up my whittling at the state fair which comes off on the first of Oct. I wish you would come on a visit then I mean now Dan to give my whole attention to machines because I must I can not get my min