The
Fassett Letters - Letter #35
Date:
3/2/1857
Place: Placerville
To:
Father
From: H. H. Fassett
Placerville
El Dorado Co Cala
March 2d 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,
[Begin second
page.]
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.
[Begin
third page.]
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
[Begin
fourth page.]
Miss
Mary
Fassett
March 2d
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 3d) 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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