Letter from Jeanne C. Carr to John Muir, 1866 Oct 12

[4]open it early in October, but there is no certainty. A larger number than ever before had applied for rooms and many have gone away. I suppose you have in [illegible] the advantage of access to a good [illegible]. I suppose you have before this found my beautiful book. The Stone Mason of Saint Point , and what did you think of it? And did you ever find Calypso for yourself in the North Roads? I have a great many questions to ask you, and I trust there is a time coming for them all. You do not know how we hold you in our memories as one apart from all other students, in your [power?] of insight into Nature, & the simplicity of your love for her. I think you would love her as well if she did did not turn mill wheels, or grind any bodys grist. Besides, I like you for your [individualized?] acceptance of realigious truth, and feel a deep sympathy in it. We are truly your friends, dear John [1] [1866] Madison Oct 12.Dear Mr Muir, No, dear John Muir, little Henrys letter has made me feel how much I have lost in letting your alone so many months, and I have done injustice to my own heart in not telling you how really sorry I was for the misfortune that took you out of the Canada Woods. Somehow I thought you were a picture fitly framed in that wild picturesque region. I\u27d you not feel more at home with the nature there, than at the human element now surrounding you! I like to think of you either in the good old mothers arms, or where mens work is the work of the ages. But I see that you are lonely - and I know it is not well for you. I write to ask you to come here this fall, before natureCome to us freely & try whether it will keep the loneliness, [& come?] and see us this fall, or any time when you can. Yours most sincerely Jeanne Carr 00381 [2]puts on her winter clothes, and make me, (us,) a good long [illegible] renew your old [illegible] with children and books, and make new friendships with grown people and with the plants I have to show you. I have studies the Lunge this year - first enough to be completely bewitched with their beauty. Their per- ishable nature adds to their interest for me - it allies them to the clouds, to the morning and evening light - to all things made for beauty only . The long con- tinued rains have produced them in unusual luxuriance & perfection, & I am daily mourning that I cannot abide with them for a few days in their chosen haunts. I suppose the re- gion about your old home is even richer than this, in the \u27little children\u27 of the vegetable world. We have had a better disappoint- ment in the University. The Legislature of last winter voted to unite the[3]Agricultural Grant that to the University is a common fund, for the support of an Institution which under the old name showed he reor- ganized to cover the ground of both. We had a new board of Regents app- pointed, and their first effort was to ob- tain a President. They finally agreed in appointing Prof Paul A Chadb[illegible] of Williams College. A very eminent scientific man. one of the first Botanists in the country. The Massachusetts State Rep- ub[illiegible] committee had also appointed him to represent them (with others) at the late Rep. convention in Philadelphia. He did not go, but had hardly arrived here when our democratic papers came out in a [illegible] of articles against him - and he was so disqusted with the prospect of a political gravel that he refused to stay with us. In consequence the Faculty was not reor- ganized, and the institution is practi- cally suspended. We hope they ma