A. C. Freeman

[Preprinted stationary; State of California Legislative Department EIGHTEENTH SESSION ASSEMBLY CHAMBER. Sacramento,] Sunday Sept of 1870.

[written over Legislative] Grass Widower's Evening Back Office

Dear Wife

On my return home I recommenced boarding at Mr Bowles But Jenks found some one from whom he managed to get better terms than Bowles could afford to give, and the house changed hands to day. Bowles feels grieved that as soon as he had got fairly under way, and had begun to make something over expenses, he was compelled to give up the business. Jenks and wife have been very obsequious since my return, in hopes, no doubt, to Keep me as a patron of the house. But I was in fact getting pretty well starved out, and took my napkin rings yesterday noon, and shook the boarding house dust from my feet with more pleasure than regret.

I went to Father's last night with Tom

[Following is overwriting on the left side of the letter] I fear this is too late for you to get your things to night. Be careful about catching cold while at the ball. The old fat woman's apartment across the way burned out at 9 o'clock last night. But the balance of the building is not much injured - - -

Sep. 5, 70

Did you get the 2.51 Calif sale

A. C. F

and to day went to the camp meeting at McConnells instead of going to the one at Mokelumne. Several of our Georgetown, Hicksville, and Elk Grove acquaintances were out. The day was not uncomfortably warm; but the preaching was of the old southern, backwoods, Cumberland Prysbeterian [Presbyterian] style. The Cant-rells [Cantrells] were there. Annie by her usual kindness toward me, enabled me to pass away the day without becoming homesick or lonesome. She had, I fancied, faded a little in the past year; or else the sunlight was more unkind to her than the lamp light. She and Set had both been unwell from that pleurisy or neuralgia in the side to which they are subject. Partly for the fun there was in it, and partly for the benefit of Tom and Myra, I beaned Annie around in such good style that I expect some one will try to tell you about it.

We came home by the Mokelumne excur sion [excursion] train, arriving home at six o clock [o'clock]. I at once, laid in a supply of bread, cakes, butter and eggs, and soon had a bachelor supper. To-morrow I can add milk to my bill of fare, and commence to live in style.

I have been at the homestead two evenings. The shrubs in the front yard, though somewhat dry and dusty, have not, I think, been injured by my absence. Lubeck's have not succeeded in finding a house, suiting them in all respects. He came to me in the street and said, if he could get his wife to agree to it, and I would put the a hydrant in the Kitchen, he would stay until spring and pay $25, per month: that the deduction of $5, would pay for his car tickets. I told him I preferred buying tickets for myself, and that I wanted to go in the house by the first of January by all means. I think he has hunted hard for a house, so he could throw up mine before you returned and before I was prepared to move, and this he did, after his wife had told you they wanted to stay until after fair time. If he has not moved when you come back, I think I will turn the tables and make him "git". Mrs Striff wants to sell her lot for $800. If it were at all prudent for me to do so, I would buy it, as the place is worth more to us than to any one else.

While I feel lonely enough, and am at all times

anxious and doubting about Mabel, and feel with great power other wants which I will not name in ink, yet I think it is lucky to have you both in the mountains now and will be fortunate if you can remain until cool weather sets in. To hear the visiting committee of our little tribe arise in their places and report the names of brothers known to be sick, & unable to follow the hunt, is appalling. This morning one of our brothers, O. P. McPhetridge, a modest unassuming and gentlemanly student at law, in the attorney general's office, and in every respect worthy of a long and prosperous life, was taken away to the hunting grounds beyond the river, after an illness of three weeks of Typhoid fever. I shall attend his funeral at 8^1/2 o'clock to-morrow. If you had remained here in your debilitated condition with the care and anxiety of the family weighing so heavily on you as it does, I fear you might have been seized with one of those terrible fevers from which few can ever arise.

I feel well now, and shall endeavor to Keep my system in good condition. Do not fail to let me Know each day how you and Mabel are. When I Knew yesterday that you had not sent any letter by the P. O. I was starting for the telegraph office to enquire [inquire] about you, because I could not bear to leave town with doubt in my mind; but I happened to see the express letter left, and was on opening it was reassured. Let me Know whether you have received every thing you sent for.

I now shall close for to-night; and soon I shall be reposing on that couch, which however much it may rest and reinvigorate me, has but few charms when it is not occupied by one, of whom I am, the loving & affectionate husband

A. C. Freeman