Charles C. Newton

In my Log Cabin. Sunday Feb. 20^th 1853.

Thank you My Dear Sister for a most welcome epistle just received from my your dear, dear self. I well know you had not altogether forgotten me, that one day conscience would say well now, there is poor Maje what must he think I must not defer any longer writing him, so here goes.

Dame Fortune seems to have deviated from her usual course towards me, since she has favored me with no less that four nice letters. one from Gordon, two from my faithful correspondant Tom, and one from you. tis highly gratifying dear Sister to hear welcome news from dear friends at home. to know that all are well and happy tends in a great measure to enliven my spirits, and to urge me onward, to make renewed exertion to en able me soon to be again among you. it does seem a very long time to me since I have beheld the faces of beloved friends. every day increases my anxiety to return. ah-well – I must cheer up. 'tis said that "it is always darkest just before day." I trust it is so in my case. never were prospects for the future more cheerless, than now. it does seem as tho the fates were against me in any thing I undertake. never did any one have fairer prospects of doing well than I did last Fall. I came over here, about 12 miles from Nevada. near a small town called Waloopa. I had prospected a Ravine, and obtained one dollar to the Pan, which you may be aware is "no small pumkins". I went in company with five others to a great deal of expense, in preparing to work our claims. built a Cabin, and settled down. highly elated with our good fortune, and counting on the fair chances of returning home in the Spring with a "pile." well in the first place we had to wait three long months for rain, to give us water to wash the dirt. however we had every thing prepared ready to commence, so that when it did come we should lose no time. finally it did come, and that too

too with a vengeance It not only rained but snowed incessantly for two months. not withstanding, we worked hard all the time. had we been well paid I should not have minded it. but as it was we did not make our Board. it seems as tho we had got all the Gold in the Ravine in One Pass, with one Dollar. for as I tell you we washed dirt from early till late and scarcely made the wherewith to feed ourselves. to crown all this cause such a heavy fall of snow, as to render the Roads wholly impassable Provisions consequently rose to a very high price. and the quantity decreased rapidly at one time I thought it was a gone case with us. there was hardly any Flour, not a pound of meat to be had at any price. I dont know what we should have done but fortunately we had some few Potatoes on hand and on those we subsisted sparingly too for nearly a fortnight thus you see what a poor miner has to put up with it may seem almost incredible to you. but I assure you that tis now three months since I have tasted a morsel of fresh Beef. there is none to be had for love nor money. tis astonishing to me how men can stand it. still they do and grow fat on it, shall I give you a little insight to my domestic arrangement; here I sit at a rough table covered with a coarse potatoe sack. the far end of which is strewn with various culinary implements such as Coffee Pot, Fry Pan, Tin Cups, Plates, &c. [etc.] Casting my eyes around I gaze with affrighted look in the corner of the Cabin, there stands the once filled 50 lb Flour Sack, like a Corporal two days gone with the Cholera. beside it the Sugar Sack, already downed to the Camp Kettle to try out the remnants caked to its inner side, above these on a shelf are gloriously arrayed Several empty bottles. but they emit no fragrance of having once been filled with Molasses, Vinegar, &c. [etc.]

[drawing of cabin layout] On one end of the Cabin are our sleeping cribs covered with rough clap boards. on which is spread some dry leaves and over that a single blanke, there we stretch our weary limbs covering with two pair blankets. the fire place takes

near all one side of the house. Our residence is situated on an convenience commanding an extensive view of no water. statly [stately] oaks with no tops and plenty of "poor diggins". we rise at day break prepare our breakfast at work by sun rise. knock off at 12. back at 1. and work until Sun down. come home get our supper. after which if we have any thing to read, we read or else to bed to dream of home and happier times.

I intend the Spring shall close my mining career. I have become heartily sick of it. it is my intention to go into Southern California and turn farmer, or do something which will insure a better yield than I am convinced mining will.

Yours is a very interesting letter Dear Sister. how much I wish, I could have just looked in upon you while writing, with that beautiful child playing at your side. I can hardly realise that changes in so short a time, every body it seems is married or about to be. Alf DeL. to Miss C K. Agusta Von Proby by the time I get back there will be none left. I shall have grown so rough ugly. that I shall stand a poor chance.

Give my affectionate regard to Floyd tell him it would greatly delight me to hear from him.

You will also give my love to Mother, Sar, Tom, Aunt Jane and every body. Say I begged to be remembered affecctionately to all who inquire. I wrote to Mother by last Steamer I wish dearly you would write me often tell me all about yourself and every one else. you would I know [?] you were aware how much happiness it affords me. [?h] all write to Gordon & Tom by this Steamer provided [?se] be in time. I hope dear Tom will suceed in [?lia]. I Know very little of the chances there, having [?] but little. still it would be a good thing for him [?] think the circumstances are which he goes

are excellent. he will no doubt succeed. I wish I had it in my power to assist him. If Gordon is engaged, I should like very much to be at his wedding.

I trust my dear Sister I will have made this scrawl an interesting one. I am writing under so many disadvantages that you must make all allowances.

With love to all. A Kiss for you, dear Baby.

I remain ever your affectionate Brother Charles C. Newton

Mrs. Amelia N. Bailey New York City

Steep Hollow Creek. Up Cal. Dec. 1^st 1853

My Dearest Sister,

Having just returned to these parts after an absence of four months in the mountains and learning through a friend, of dear Father's severe illness I hasten to relieve my intense anxiety on his account. please dear Sister, write me immediately, tell me all. if you only knew how anxious I am you would not delay. I had hoped to receive several letters on my return. but my friend tells me that he has been to Nevada several times but could not procure one. I know not why it is I so seldom receive letters. I am certain I am written to by my friends and the only way I can account for it is, that there is a man of my name beside myself in this County, in fact I know there is one of the name of Chas H. Newton and from New York too, as an Express man thru his Stupidity once brought me a letter directed as above. and which I soon assured myself was not for me. forthwith I reinclosed & directed as before. now my opinion is that my letters have been taken out of the P. O. by Mr. Chas H. and never returned. however I am certain I do not receive all the letters written me. I am not alone in this, many of my friends, and others are daily complaining of never receiving news from home. I have been silent Since my absence owing to my being wholly out the way of postal arrangements, and this is the first opportunity I have had to write. the last letter I received from Mother, dated May 13^th, previous to which I had one from you dated April 1^st which I duly answered. Since then I have not received a single one. I am in hopes in future to receive them more regularly as I have a mode by which I shall be alble to thwart Mr Chas H.'s habit.

Continue to direct me at Nevada City and with my best