cam_hparker_2311_f005_002.1

San Francisco Jan 20th 1856

My Dear Mother,

Today being Sunday, the mail
Steamer does not leave here until tomorrow, for N. York
so I have delayed writing until now.

I am as well as usual, with the exception of
a cold, of which I am getting rid of. The weather
for two days past, has been cool and wet most
of the time, and I suppose I have been rather
careless, so caught a cold -- It is raining now,
although I do not think it will rain steady
throughout the day. -- Mr N. is well also, and is
engaged in the same manner that I am --
writing home. We now "keep house" the same
as we have done for nearly a year. Three of
us take turns in doing the housework, -- first I
attend to it a week, then Mr. Noyes a week, then
Mr. Millet a week, and so on --

I like this mode of living better than any
other in this country -- beside we can make a
saving by it

I recieved [received] your kind and welcome letter of
the 17th Dec the 15th inst. -- I was glad to hear that
you were all comfortably well, but should have
been more pleased, could you have written
that Harriet was enjoying better health -- still
I hope she may continue to gain -- if but slowly --