Gold Rush Era Letters

I suppose you remember of my writing you about my walk to Fort Point a few Sundays ago and also about the boquet [bouquet] I gathered at that time.

I have since pressed two or three of my wild flowers which I intend to send on to you in this letter and I hope they will look as pretty when you recieve [receive] them as they now do, for if they should I know they will prove acceptable -- still if I could have done so I should much rather sent you the fresh boquet [bouquet], so as to have shown you a fair sample of California wild flowers, but that I knew was out of the question so I took the next best method.

Tell Charles that I have recieved [received] papers from him regularly by the last four or five mails and that I am very glad he sends them, still I want he should write me once in a while, or twice in a while would suit me better, but if he cannot write me why then I should be glad to have him continue to send me papers and I will send him some in return. Tell Hattie not to neglect sending me her miniature for I shall expect it along in about two months and a half after the time I sent for it. Give my love to them both, also to Uncle Bradley and family, and all my inquiring friends

You will also please accept a liberal share of the love and good wishes of

Your repentant & loving Son

H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

To Mrs Ann Parker E Pepperell Mass

[written vertically in the left margin] Monday May 15th, Am well as usual with a prospect of remaining so, no news H. A. P. [Henry A. Parker]

My health remains good and for the past few weeks I have felt much better than ever before since I have been in California, although I have always enjoyed good health since my arrival here but am now getting to be more thoroughly acclimated --

As regards business, I have made another change which will not surprise you much I am thinking, at least it ought not to, knowing as you do how I like to be shifting about.

Since I last wrote you I have sold out one half of my book-stand to a young man from North Bridgwater, Mass. by the name of Ephraim Noyes -- have enlarged our stock and intend to do more business than what I have been doing alone while I shall have a much easier time of it. Yesterday we took $25. -- and our profits amounted to $13.50 which leaves us $6 -- apiece after paying rent and license. I don't want you to think however that I am doing as well as this every day for some days I do not make half as much, then again once in a while I might do a little better, but I do not expect to average more than about $3 -- per day with which I will try to be satisfied for the present, although we have talked some of getting another stand in the course of a few weeks ---

and belongs somewhere about Cape Cod.

He has a wife and child here. His wife is a very fine woman -- one who is very generally liked --

They both I believe belong at the same place and are real "Yankees" although "Zalucar" may be a foreign name, -- I believe I have now given you a clearer account of my business than I have ever done before since I have been in California and you will greatly oblige me by keeping the above information "all in the family" as Pepperell folks always have, and probably do now, pretend to know all about our business, but I do not intend to let them know enough about my affairs, to make them any wiser for it -- I have written nothing about my business to Mr Tucker more than what I was obliged to, although he has often requested me to do so

He does not know that I even have bought into any vessels, that I know of and I shall probably write him nothing about it as I cannot see as I should benefit anyone by so doing ----

I am sorry that Charles finds it so difficult to write me but I expect he intends to treat me the same as he would "his girl". "Wait until he sees me." I do hope however that he will write me once more, and if I was at home I would try and help him to do so. Please give my love to him and Harriet, and my kind regards to Uncle and Aunt, Willie Mrs. Betsey Tucker and all the rest of my friends --

From Your very affct [affectionate] Son H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

Mrs Ann Parker E. Pepperell Mass

[written in the left margin and around to the top margin] Fri morning June 16th I am well this morning, and I hope you are enjoying good health as usual I shall send Chas a paper H. A. P. [Henry A. Parker]

San Francisco Sunday June 25th 1854

My Dear Mother,

Although the mail will not leave here for the Atlantic States until the 1st July, I thought I would commence writing you, at the present time, as I do not think I can spend the Sabbath in a more creditable manner

Last Sunday I tended the stand as MNoyes [Ephraim Noyes] (my partner) was away, so today he tends it No doubt you will think it rather strange that we do business Sundays, but before you judge us too severely, I wish you to take into consideration that we are now in California instead of the goodly land of New England

There is now a great deal of business done here on the Sabbath, (this however does not excuse me) but I am happy to say, not so much as formerly and I think that in one year from this time, most all places of business, will always be closed on the Lords Day.

If I had any particular place to attend church, or could go any where else, where it would appear like Sunday, I should rather do so now, than to transact any business, but as I have not, and as Sunday is generally a very good business day with us, I think we may as well keep open, for I think we might do worse

the best and for the good of all of us.

Somehow or other I do not seem to be ready to start for New England although I cannot say that I like this country now, nor have I done so at any time since I have been here, but so long as I continue to hear that you are all getting along at home as well or perhaps better than you would if I were there and as I am now comfortably situated here I do not seem inclined to make a start --

As yet, the only respect in which I have been fortunate is in the enjoyment of almost perfect health ever since my arrival here in California, which I am happy to inform you remains the same as usual. Good --

In your last letter your wrote, that you thought that if I could only add a little to the amount of mony [money] which I already have, that I should be willing to return home and never think of returning to California again.

You think in this case just about as I do and perhaps the only object I could name that I have in view at the present time for stopping here longer is to add that little which you speak of. As I wrote you sometime ago I have made nothing here as yet, to speak of and in fact now I have only made up what I was behind hand before that time and perhaps a trifle more, but now if I am successful in my undertakings for a few months I shall be able to gain a little -- at any rate I am determined to keep moving. And if I fail in one thing try another until I can accomplish something ---

Good night