Letter from John Muir to Sarah [Muir Galloway] and Annie [L. Muir], 1898 Nov 22.

• Main Author: Muir, John
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1898
• Subjects: Environmentalist; naturalist; travel; conservation; national parks; John Muir; history; correspondence; letters; Canada; Pacific; Indian; Orleans; Hodgson; Archer; glacier*
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/2313; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/muir-correspondence/article/3312/viewcontent/muir10_0505_let.pdf

Live Oak, Fla., Nov. 22, 1898.My dear Sisters Sarah and Annie:I am now on my way home by New Orleans and the Southern Pacific after one of the most mazy, wriggling, roundabout wandering trips through the forests of the East side of the Continent I ever made, yet, strange to say, leaving out Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois where you and many of my friends are. I've been twice in Canada since leaving home and in all the New England and most of the southern states. I have been down the east side of the Florida peninsula along the Indian River, through the palm and pine forests to Miami, and thence to Key West and the southmost keys stretching out towards Cuba. Returning, I crossed over the west coast by Pilatka to Cedar Keys on my old track made 30 years ago in search of the Hodgsons who nursed me through my long attack of fever. Mr. Hodgson died long ago, also the eldest son with whom 1 used to go boating among the keys while slowly convalescing, but I learned that the rest of the family and Mrs. Hodgson were living at Archer, Fla., where I found them yesterday. They, especially the old lady, were very glad to see me, as they had long thought me dead. Mrs. H. was in the garden and I recognized her, though she was so gray. I asked her if she knew me. She said, "No, I don't. Tell me your name." "Muir," I replied. "John Muir! My California John Muir?" she almost screamed. I said, "Yes, John Muir, and you know I promised to return and visit you in about 25 years, and though I'm a little late - 6 or 7 years -I've done the best I could."I stopped at Archer about four hours, and the way we talked over old times you may imagine. Of course the children are mid[dle]aged men and women. One a farmer, the other boy "the baby" a storekeeper., the girls married. The eldest boy and girl remembered the stories I told them and reading about the Muir Glacier, "felt sure it must have been named for me.I parted from Prof. Sargent yesterday. He has gone home to Boston, and so I'm alone. In about ten days I hope to reach home. Will ...