The Fassett Letters - Letter #17

Date: 10/29/1854
Place: Placerville
From: Ann
To: Mother

           Dear Mother.
                                                This is a lovely morning. I am sitting with my door open. the weather is just warm enough to be pleasant & bracing. Parker has gone with his dinner to the tunnel, Dwight with his, to school. Guy & Clara out doors getting Spruce gum to chew (just as Father & Mother did when they were children I suppose.) while I am sitting here alone writing to, & thinking of the “old folks at home.” I would give much to step in and see you this morning, but would feel quite satisfied, could I have a long talk with Chit about you. Hale rec’ a letter from him last mail that he was not coming as soon as we expected him. I felt disappointed on my own account but glad for your sakes, because I know it will be hard for you to part with him again, but “Trusting in Providence ever, still let us hope to be blest” with many more meetings even in this world. I have been hoping since C. left that I should see you next Spring if life and health were spared, as Mrs. Lee and I, had about concluded to take our little girls and go together. (she to Illinois) Our husbands want us to go without them and as we were not willing to go alone, they planned for us to go together. It suited us nicely (only I did not want to leave P. & the boys) and we had about made up our minds to go, but I am sorry to tell you that we cannot do so on account of the fare being so high. It would cost 12 or 1500,00 dollars for Clara and I to go at present prices. that is more money than we could spare and we have given up the visit, or I should not mentioned it. I had rather wait a year or two longer and take all the family, but Parker dont want to go for 2 or 3 years, and says if I will go without him as soon as I can, in a few years we will all go some fall and stay all winter, so you may expect to be twice glad. Parker is still well pleased with his tunnel. he said this morning there was ground enough to work 10 years and if he owned it all would never sell but keep it for his boys to work as he would never want a better fortune for them. it has increased in value 100 dollars per month since he bought. he could have sold his fourth last week for 1500, dollars but refuses to take less than 2000. 
I have been sewing since I wrote to you but expect to commence baking this week. We are all well. Dwight goes to school and we would send Guy & Clara, but have to pay 1,00 per week for each scholar (& they only teach 5 days) so we think they can wait till next summer. Tell Jane 20 or 30 dollars for teaching 5 days is tolable good pay. There are four schools here at that price. Every Friday Dwight carries his money as everything here goes on the ready pay system. The children all talk of you often. One day last week Clara asked what I thought was the prettiest name of all for a little girl. I said ‘dont know what do you think is.’ when she squealed out “why I think Grandma is.” She talks a great deal about being a woman, says then her Father will have 2 wives as she will be his wife too. Guy thinks ’Dumma would call him Wight because he is a big boy. I told him you would know by the black eyes, that bothered him at first but he soon settled it by concluding you would think D’s eyes had turned black here then how he laughed. I defy anyone to puzzle him long without his twisting out some way. Dwight sends some verses to Willie because he thinks them pretty. I should like to know something about Sarah, what her husband intends doing &c. you never hint a word. tell her to write all she can it is such a comfort to hear from home. This is meant for Harris too but if he will write to me will answer. Always give my love to the Grandmas, Uncle Thomas & Aunt Sally as well as all other friends, always reserving a large share for the family, Father & you. write whenever you can to your absent but affectionate daughter.       Ann.

[The following is written sideways along the right margin and inverted along the top of the page.]

          We thank Father for the Newark papers but Parker says he had better not pay for them any longer. It costs him considerable and the news is always old. we get it in other papers, and from you first.

[The following is written inverted along the top of the first page.]

          I dont know as I can pay the postage on this as Hale has no stamps and I have no one to send down town after any. The office is often shut after school when Dwight goes with the letters so he cannot pay the money. I think we always get all the letters. Chits head is full of business and he forgets what you write. The Recorders came regular till the last 2 or 3 mails. I suppose you did not send them.