Letter from Annie K. Bidwell to John Muir, 1894 Nov 27.

[4]rejoicing in more glorious visions, but I believe that the beautiful which has become a part of our being here, will ever remain with us, to add to our future enjoyment. For are these not the works of God, who is eternal!How I do thank you for this precious gift; not only for its intrinsic value--for it will carry me into the loved scenes again and lift me to the very skies of enjoyment. but for your though of me, on this line.General exclaimed, Oh [illegible]! What a precious gift! We must read it together! I wish I could have gone to Martinez the past,[1]Dear Mr Muir,What a deluightful surprise is mine in receiving your precious gifts! Words fail me to express the emotions elicited on opening the package and finding of what it consisted!Memories most precious fairly surged about me! Our exhilerating trampts and campings, almost01881 [3]great canons [diacritic], dashing waters, mighty peaks, exquisite lakes surprising us by their beauty as well as by their existence.No pictures on canvas possess, for me, this magic power. I live the days over and over, with all the pleasant personal memories included for we have been blessed in our camping companions. How they have opened our eyes to read in the books they have also opened to us! Some have passed beyond; and are[2]among the stars!Do you remember that night near Lassen when we slept under the [pines?], and stars, with saddles as pillows and the heavens for tent? And how you upbraided us for sleeping at all, under such glorious trees, and stars! How immense and brilliant the stars seemed! When these pictures rise before me they bring with them sweet odors of pines, with their wild music, or solemn stillness, and the exhilerating emotions elicited by the [5]Summer, as planned, but I was not well enough to do so. I wished to meet your dear ones, and try to persuade you and them to visit us at Rancho Chico.Prof. Henshaw has passed weeks with us during the two years past and has taken some lovely views of our canon [diacritic], where I am sure your daughter who so longed for you to take her to see the bonny waterfalls would delight to ramble.But I must01881 [6]close, with best wishes from General and myself to you and yours and the hope that we all my meet ere long beneath this roof ever remaining.Gratefully yours,[Annie?] K. BidwellRancho Chico,Nov. 27, 189