"Why should I go gadding about to see the strange and the
extraordinary?" he wrote me, when trying to argue himself into
abandoning the trip. "The whole gospel of my books (if they have
any gospel) is 'Stay at home; see the wonderful and the beautiful in
the simple things all about you; make the most of the common and the
near at hand.' When I have gone abroad, I have carried this spirit
with me, and have tested what I have seen by the nature revealed to
me at my own doorstep. Well, I am glad I have triumphed at last; I
feel much better and like writing again, now that this incubus is
off my shoulders." But the incubus soon rested on him again, for
the next mail carried a letter begging him to reconsider and let
two of his women friends accompany him. So it all came about in
a few days, and we were off.
We wondered how Mr. Muir would relish two women being in the party,
but assured Mr. Burroughs we should not hamper them, and should be
ready to do whatever they were.
"Have no fears on that score," he said; "Muir will be friendly
if you are good listeners; and he is well worth listening to. He
is very entertaining, but he sometimes talks when I want to be let
alone; at least he did up in Alaska."
"But you won't be crusty to him, will you?"
"Oh, no, I shan't dare to be--he is too likely to get the best of
one; he is a born tease.
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