Letter
#10
One sheet
of blue paper 15¾ x 9¾ to make four pages.
Date:
12/23/1852
Place:
Placerville
From: Ann
To: Mother
Placervllle
Dec 23rd 1852.
Dear
Mother
2 weeks ago we
heard the United States mail had come.Chit
went after letters but could not get any for 3 days owing to the crowd
at the door. there will be one or 200 standing in a row waiting their
turn. Saturday he took his turn & when there was only 2 or 3
before him they closed for the night. he said he had a good mind to
take a stone and smash their darned old door in. At last Sunday night
he rec' your welcome letter of Oct. 24 and a happy time we had reading
it. The next Saturday morning I was commencing to mix my bread when he
came in with 3 letters. 1 from Uncle Saml, one from Jane and yours of
Oct 4 (they had been forwarded from Martinez.) of course I did not work
much till I read & reread them all. This morning we heard the
mail was in again with 5000 letters for this place. At noon Chit went
down & soon came back with yours of Nov 6th which was received
with all due rejoicing. Chit took 1 piece and read while I read another
aloud to Parker only I did not see Harris's. I suppose there was some
privacy in it & I would thank Harris not to write any as I want
to see every word from home. Parker, Chit, & Dwight have gone
back to their work & have left all to tell you how glad I am to
hear that you are all well. Dwight always stands by and hears every
word of the letters and comments on them. today he was wishing to see
you all. Parker asked him if he would like to go back in 2 or 3 years
and live there. he said he would like to go & see you all but
not to live even if I stayed for him & Father would come back
& mine & get money. he talks about you all every day,
wants you to live here, near enough for him to go too your house every
day but is never willing to live in Ohio. (All he wants of money is to
go to Grandpa's with.) he tells every day what he would do if he saw
you coming. we have no school now but he reads a lesson every day in
his second reader & Parker gives him 5 cts a lesson. he is
learning the figures and multiplication table also how to count money.
he paid 1.68 for some new boots, (they cost 3.00 but that was all he
had.) & now 50 cts to spend Christmas. Candy is 10 cts a stick
but by going the candy factory he can get a pound then peddle it out
around the street.
[Continued
on the second page.]
I
asked Guy what I should write for him. "Tell Grandma to send Harris
& Willie here to see us." He talks as broken as ever, has a
great deal to say about you all and every night has a "dood deem
(dream) bout Willie tome to pay wis tara (Clara)." Clara stands
watching me write & putting her finger on the paper says, "I
may be you roting this berry nice. She is just such an old woman to
talk as Mary was, has a great deal of trouble with her children
& work, Grandma Fassett would laugh to hear her say, "Oh la I
pose I must get supper for my childrens." She calls herself part
father's & part mother's daughter & all Grandpa's
little Clara, says Grandpa learned her to sweep &c. They are
all very healthy, talk about Willie and all of you. Parker &
Chit are very well, are still mining, & make from 3 to 12
dollars per day. The other day they found a fine specimen in their ton
which weighs 6,80 Chit is going to keep it so perhaps you will see it
some day. They would both like to go back next year after stock if they
had the money. Parker says he intends going back with his family in
about 2 years to make a visit if we live & prosper, but dont
want to stay there unless it is my wish. I dont know how that will be
as I have not been down to the bay yet. I still think I shall like it
there very much and feel anxious to go there. Think we will in the
spring. I have no privileges here that I want. I dont know but 3
Baptists here. true the Methodists have a church close by with
preaching every Sabbath but that is not my home. the preacher lives as
near to me as your house is to your office but never has his lady
stepped inside my door. Mrs Harker told him I was her Aunt and he had
slighted me (in not inviting me to the sowing society) he made a great
many apologies, called on me and said his wife was coming, but they
found I did not dress in satin as she does, so I am passed by. Mary Ann
dont do so I assure you, I enjoy my self very much in visiting with
her. indeed that is all that makes me willing to stay here this winter.
Our clothes held out well, we had more than enough to last us here. I
made each of the boys a pair of pants & a sack out of the cloak
but it was not worth it as it is all eat up by the moths. it must have
been done in your closet as it could not be done on the road. as for
books, I had those I brought from home, & I bought one of a
colporteur on the boat at
[Continued
on the third page.]
Cincinatti. The life of Mrs. Isabella Graham
who died in New York city several years ago. It is a beautiful book
& I never see it without thinking of Grandma Peck. I would give
almost anything if I could send it to her. I think she would prize it
as much as any book she ever saw except the Bible. much as I think of
it, I would be glad to send it for Grandma, Aunt Ann, & you to
read. She was born in Scotland, married a surgeon & went to
Montreal, from there to the West Indies where her husband died
& left her with 2 little daughters & in 7 months after
she had a son. she went home found her mother dead, her father had lost
his property, & she supported her father & her own
family by teaching school. her account of her husbands death, her
poverty &c is very affecting. she says when she was wealthy she
was courted by all, but when she went back poor, she had to eat her
porridge & potatoes & salt without a friend to help
her. She was a very talented woman with a splendid education, was
principal in a seminary in New York a number of years and her death was
mourned as a public calamity. I forgot to write in my last that Chit
spent one day with Trueman this side of Sacramento. he was well, liked
the country, & had sent to know if his family would come too.
We saw James Morrow in Oct, he was very well, said he had a claim at
White Rock 4 miles from here, & should mine there this winter.
I suppose he is there now. Give my love to Mr & Mrs Morrow,
& tell them we would like to have them write. we saw Green
about the same time. he was very healthy. I never saw him look as well.
Mary Ann was sick last week with rheumatism. I went to see her
yesterday, she is about well. I intended writing to Jane by this
steamer but the mail closes today & I must leave it till next
mail. I thank John, Mary, & Harry for writing & would
like to answer each one separately but cannot this time. this is for
them & all of you together. I will try & write every
mail if I can, but if I dont you must never think it is neglect. I have
laid awake many an hour both on the plains & here and written
long letters in imagination. It is my greatest pleasure to think of you
all, but I never had been homesick one moment, I really wonder at it. I
am contended & happy, I wanted to fill the sheet but the mail
closes today. Love to Grandmothers, Mother Germain & all,
Father I would like to see your writing in every letter. Love to every
one of the family & good bye. Ann
F. Germain
[The
following is upside down at the top of the first page.]
Give my
love to Aunt Green the girls & tell them I sympathize with them
in their deep affliction.
Keep on
writing all of you. it does me so much good to hear. I suppose I have
no more friends in Ohio that will write to me. Mary Ann sees your
letters, it seems to do her about as much good as it does me.
[The
following in Chitt's handwriting is on the fourth page.]
Dec 27
I have a letter partly written but the mail closes
and I promise a letter next mail. love to all. hope you will continue
to write one and all.
Yours truly
Chitt
[Enclosed
in the envelope is a small white piece of paper scribbled all over in pencil and marked in brown ink as follows:]
Clara's
letter
to Willie
Willie come & see
Harris