Letter from John Muir to [Daniel Muir, Jr], 1869 Dec 5.

[1869] Yosemite Valley Dec 8thDear Doctor Your last with your [face?] reached me ere I started for the mts I enjoyed the ever glorious rocks & waters of this godly temple, but I was called from the world of Natures beauty to the hard outside world of mortal facts. I am engage ed to make a sawmill in this place & so will be here all winter It seems most sacreligious to mar the harmonies of these divine waterfalls with the screeching of a mill – to set the white waters of Yo semite to work ere it is tranquil in its passage from the sky. Winter will soon turn the key upon us & we will be locked, “Snowbound” in this the grandest earthly mansion that the Lord has in all the open world. But you must write for Indian Tom comes to the valley once a month on snow-shoes & brings the mail. Of course you are busy & happy among your wise men & bones but would you not like to see & hear the winter grandeur of Yosemite. You may be blessed, but I am glorious “ [over?] a the ils o life [victorious?]” I suppose that you will be delivered from the chattering skeletons & [professors on Jan 1s?] well if so think of your sweetheart & of me locked up in an house not made with hands whose walls are a mile in height & beautiful as those of the New Jerusalem. I trust that you will be very successful in digging in the grim mines of disease & live to cure many a colic & “[sair breest?]” [illegible] you well [illegible] [illegible] [most?] cordially John Mui