cams_rjboylan_b012_f003_004_1

Onion Valley, California July 5, 1851

Dr [Dear] Wife children and friends, I have this day recd [received]
two letters from you March and April 18. I eat [ate] my
breakfast this morning before sunrise and traveled on foot
to this place over the Snow caped [capped] peaks of the Siere Mader [Sierra Madre]
hungry and fatigued but the first thing was to call on
the express office and read my letters. it affords me
much joy to hear from my darling family and to hear
they wair [were] well, but the painful news from brother
James -- poor fellow he was called from this world in the
[? paper torn] of life to his friends and dear relatives I have no
dvise [advice] to give but only remark that when the Disciples
of John the Baptist learned the that he was beheaded they said they
would go and tell Jesus (tell what) their sorrowes [sorrows]
and they -- you and I, can go and do likewise -- I feel to
Sympathise [Sympathize] with you all and pour forth the tear of Sorrow &
affliction and realize that we one and all must soon or later
must follow. I hope you will not give yourself any unneces-
sary fears about, me yet well do I Know your anxious
heart. I shall take all the care of my health that I
Posibly [possibly] can rest assured my Dear Wife that I have some
warm friends with me yet there is an empty void that
cannot or could not be filled in the hour of pain and Sorrow
but by my Darling Wife and family but I trust and
hope that we shall soon be permited [permitted] to meet again
around our family circle and enjoy A season of uninter-
rupted tranquility. I feel no desire for any greater Earthly