The Fassett Letters - Letter #35
 
Date: 3/2/1857
Place: Placerville
To: Father
From: H. H. Fassett

Placerville  El Dorado Co Cala

March 2^d 1857

                              Dear Father
                                                   I cannot but sometimes think when I set me down so regularly every month & write you that I am giving you double doses contrary to the best medical jurisprudence. But then the necessity of some one so doing, and the fact that “sufficient unto the day is the evil,” confirms me in continuing my scratches. And then I think if it does you 1/2 the good to receive letters from across “deep blue sea” and from a strange country that it does me from home that it cannot be much punishment. But if I only wrote once in a year or two I fear I would not get any from home.
                                                                                      The weather is fine today sun shining warm & pleasant, but the winter has been a very cold wet one for this country almost equal to 52 & 53, and the roads are worse from here to Sac City than they have been since that time it being almost impossible for us to get goods here now as fast as we can sell them and most kinds of provisions are high. Flour 22 to 25 $ per bbl. Wheat 7 ^c, Barley 6 ^c, Oats 6 ^c, Potatoes 6 ^c, Onions 12 to 14 ^c, Beans 12½ ^c, Coffee 20 to 25 ^c, Pork 27 ^c, Hams 25 to 30 ^c, Bacon 27 to 28 ^c, D ^rd Apples 20 ^c per lb. Peaches 40 ^c, Rice 14 ^c,

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Lard 38 ^c, Butter 50 to 75 ^c, Sugars 20 to 25 ^c, other things in proportion.

Chittenden has been up and made a visit

went back last Tuesday. he is living in San Francisco 92 Front St. Germain still teaming for us and Ann & family all quite well our business still continues good as far as quantity, and we warrant the quality No 1.

After fighting

Coloma for the last 4 years we have got the Co seat located at this place which with the wet winter will I think make times very lively this spring & summer if that is the case & I can sell out next fall to advantage & get settled up here may make you a visit in about 1 year but everything depends on that little if & it may be 2 or 3 before I can get away. There is a strong probability of a Sunday Law being passed here this winter by the legislature if they do we shall have much easier times than now and with the privilege of Church going & rest one will be the better reconciled to this lovely country. I only wish I had money enough to send for you all to come here, where you can live without being sick 2/3 of the time.

“Health, the poor mans blessing,
The rich mans bliss.”        The motto of Dr Drakes old “Western

Lancet” can be understood and appreciated here, and only in this clime have I found what true life feeling is.
 
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          Granville you still think as lovely as ever, well how are all the folks in Johnstown & Sunbury & are you all well at home How is your stock &c &c and times are they hard? or easy; I am on your account sorry that necessity compels me to be so long absent, for now I have got into a line of business which I do not despise If I were only with you think I could help you along considerable. How is Johns health I hope it is better   I am very sorry he was not able to go on with his studies but it may be all for the best. Keep him in the open air and as much as possible employed. Are Sarah & Jane well, and Mary. Harry & Willie how do they get along with those studies. I was 25 years old last month and of course began to feel old enough to enquire into the minutiae of family matters altho’ do not think of taking the dignitys in “propria persona.”
                                              Now Father whenever you feel like it I hope you will sit down and write me a long letter, and I will not long be your debtor. Remember me to Uncle & Aunt J−  Uncle T & Aunt S−  Grandmother & the relatives generally. My love to my Mother & the children & believe me

Your Aff Son                                                    
H. H. Fassett                                

Mother thank you for your many letters
& will write you a long letter next month.
                           Harris

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Miss Mary Fassett                                                                 March 2^d

                                                                                                                         Dear Girl
                                                                                                                                           I really fear such a delicate flower as you are, whom no one takes the trouble to inform me as to your health or unhealthiness, a young Lady of sweet 17 can it be possible that boarding school miss as you are you already have so many young feller correspondents that you cannot find time to write one little letter to your sedate brother Harris Yes Mary I fear something has come over you that you have forgotten all of us off here, and are neglecting with us “the small sweet courtesies of life.” If in the course of human events true sisterly love swells your bosom I hope you will sit down and write a few lines to your poor old brother telling him   (March 3^d) as to whether this is really so or no. And then all the dear Girls in the Seminary are they well. how I long to see them all, & you too.   Please give them a kiss all round for me & some ”bright particulars” two of ‘em And if in a year or two it should so happen that you should write me in and of & concerning all your school duties, beauties, & pleasures, you will much oblige & shall in payment thereof receive more news from Your Brother,

Harris                                        

 
[The following is upside down at the top of the first page.]
 
Willie. look out and do not let any of them fat pigs throw you off when you ride them to water.
                                    H
 
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