The
Fassett Letters - Letter #25
One
sheet ~16” x 10” folded in half to make 4 pages
Date:
9/18/1855
Place: Placerville
From:
H.H. Fassett and Ann
To: Father
Placerville
Sept 18th 1855
Dear Father
It having been a long
time since I have had a line from you I write
this hoping you will answer soon. We are all well and doing well and in
hopes that some day we can all visit you at least. California I think
much of as a place to live in, and am very healthy if you were all here
would care very little for Ohio and think it would be a long time
before you would see me back. Still many things here are not as one
would wish them to be. Sunday being no day of rest. I think however
that the Legislature will this winter will pass a law to prohibit the
Sunday traffic. It is raining a little now about the first since May
last. I suppose you have plenty of fruit at home while we have scarsly
anything of that kind, Dried fruit being mostly out of the market.
Apples 25 c pr lb, Peaches 50 to 63, Cranberries $2. per Gal, Currants
not to be had, Ranch Butter $1.00 per lb, Kg 75.c Potatoes are very
high 5 c per lb by the sack. All kinds of Salt meats high Beef 22, Pork
20, Shoulders 20, Bacon 24, Hams 25 to 28,c Mackerel 25, Salmon
12½ c, Oysters 2# Cans $12. pr Doz. and most every thing in
the same ratio. Flour however being an exception it being only $12. pr
bbl at retail. Wholesale at San Francisco $7.50 to $8.00
[Begin
p. 2]
Tell
John I
wrote him a long letter some time ago & that I have not had a
word from him. wish him to write me immediately, as I wish very much to
know how he is getting along. Tell Mary to study hard & Harry
to do so too, & that he must take good care of Peter so I can
break him when I come back. Rolla, Buckeye, & the Grey
& Roan must not be forgotten. And Willie will have to study
hard or his little nephew Guy will get the start of him. He commenced
going to school in May & is now over as far as words of 5
syllables and learning very fast. Willie must not let him beat, and
must help gather the corn, &c &c. Enclosed this time
you will find that letter sheet and map of the mining regions. And I
will also send you a few papers. Could you not once in two or three
months send us some Newark papers, having considerable local news. Also
when writing, any little items conscerning any of you or our friends
& relatives will be thankfully received. Be sure and remember
me to all of them, & if Lydia & family have started to
this country let me have their P.O. address. if they have not gone tell
Lydia to write me on arrival and that I think I will visit her this
fall.
The Dinner Bell has just rung and I must
close. Ann will finish this. My love to all the family, friends
& relatives, & if Alma is still at Uncles tell her I
regretted very much not seeing her in New York, & that I am in
hopes some day to visit her & Alfred in the room Uncle built
expressly for them. Your Aff Son
H. H. Fassett
[Begin
page 3 in Ann's handwriting - additional inverted text added at top of
page; see end of letter.]
Monday eve,
Sept 18th
Would you like to know what we are all doing this evening. Parker has
gone to the blacksmith shop to get his pick sharpened (which must be
done every 2 or three days.) Guy, Clara, & Sarah asleep, Dwight
sitting by the table reading the manners, and customs of the Bedouin
Arabs, and my humble self, writing. How much I would give peep in your
window to night and see what you are all doing. But I dont think I
should stay there long. What a bobbery you would all kick up if my phiz
should show itself among you. that is the way I would like to visit
you, just to step right in unexpected, and give you a pleasant
surprise. How many times have I sat and pictured a meeting with you all
till time & space would seem annihilated, and for the moment
would really be with you. These idle dreams give me many a happy hour.
God grant they may be realized soon.
Tuesday morning.
Last night I was so tired and sleepy I could not keep awake to write.
Harris is very good about writing to you so much, he really has no time
to call his own, neither day or night. he always comes up here as often
as he can but that is very seldom, and only a few moments at a time.
Chit dont come once a month. all he thinks of is business, business.
Chittenden started yesterday morning for San Francisco, to be gone till
Saturday. he goes every 2 or 3 weeks. Hale is quite well.
Tell
Aunt Sally her letter was very welcome, and she may look for an answer
next mail. I intended writing to her this time but am very busy making
the children some winter clothes. Sarah’s letter that Mother
spoke of in her last (written Aug 13th) has not arrived yet, I shall
look for it next mail, and when it comes
[Begin
p. 4]
will answer it.
Jane wrote to Harris from Johnstown and although she was so spunky
about the baby’s name that she would not write a word to me
yet. I intended writing with him, in answer to her but did not know
when he wrote. If she could see the sweet little thing, she would love
her very much. She is a perfect little beauty (if I do say it) with
black eyes and a very good skin though not as fair as Dwight. She is
also very intelligent for her age, and extremely good natured. She
seldom cries and we think her disposition as pleasant as any we ever
knew.
[Inverted
interleaved text is added here; see end of letter.]
Indeed
we very much hope she will resemble her Aunt Sarah. Harris laughs at me
and calls her black, and homely, but he remarked to Parker the other
night about how fast the baby grew handsome. I dont know that Chit has
seen her for 2 months. Jane wants Chit to kiss the black baby for her.
he can have a chance any day, as the squaws are always around, but I
dont envy him the pleasure. Of all the dirty, filthy, nasty, creatures,
that ever was, these are certainly the very worst. Jane never saw a
dirty person there. I must tell you of a great event in the still
routine of my life. The ladies of the Presbyterian Church, made a
supper, the proceeds to be applied to the church debt. Chit bought a
ticket ($2.00) but not wanting to go himself gave it to me. Parker kept
all the children and I went with Mrs. Lee, wore a blue basque waist,
and white skirt, with underhandkerchief and sleeves to match. went
about sundown, and came home at 11, baby had slept all the time. spent
the evening very pleasantly. the Baptist have just commenced a singing
school, and Parker keeps the children while I go, ’aint he
clever. The school is in the upper town and some of the gents come
after me and home with me. I flatter myself they want me some. Mother
may look for a copy of the minutes next mail if I am not disappointed
in getting it. Please return the favor if convenient. Look out for 3
papers this mail. John, Mary, Harry, and Willie, will please write to
me when they can. does Willie “sisser Ann” yet. Guy
says ‘Moler’ yet. But paper fails, so good bye for
this time with very much love to
all.
Affectionately yours, Ann.
[The
following is written upside down at the top of the third
page.]
I feel anxious
to hear from Lydia. hope it will be no bad news. If Lydia come to this
country, should be glad to visit if possible.
[The
following is written upside down in the middle of the fourth page
merged in between Ann’s discussion of the baby.]
I
expect you will laugh at what I have written about the baby, but it is
all true. If you dont believe it come and see.
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