Gold Rush Era Letters

At 4 Oclock P.M. we took the boat to San Francisco where we arrived Sunday morning after having been gone a week having made about $40. out of pocket We went directly to our old boarding place Mrs Millers & it again received us a little like home. I will now inform you with regard to my money affairs &c. When I arrived here I had $189. I received for my cards $66. & I shall have after paying this weeks board $100. I have lent Friend Fisk 57 dolls so that my expenses have been $98. & I am now living as economical as possible. I have as yet found nothing to do but shall in the course of the week. One thing is certain. If I was now in the States making a good living & knew what I now do about this country I should by all means stay there & I would not advise anyone to think of coming out here, but as long as I am out here I shall stop a while & try and do something.

I have not as yet Seen Saml Tucker [Samuel P. Tucker] although I learned from Mr Walton that he came down here from the mines while I went up there, stopped here a day or two & then went to some other place but where I cannot learn. Give my love to all my friends & I hope & trust that one of you will write me a good long letter by every mail as a letter from a New England home & friends is acknowledged by all to be the greatest luxury and goes farther to make one happy than any thing to be found in California.

I remain as ever Your Affct Son & Your affct & loving brother H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

P.S. Bro Charles Please write me and give me an account of your school of your focols, garden &c. What do you think of common hens bringing $40 per doz & Eggs $2.50 per Doz. (The mail for Cal. leaves the states on the 5th & 20th of each month.

San Francisco Oct 28th,, 1852

My Dear Mother

Your kind letter dated Sept 19th I received the 20th inst. Was glad to hear that you continued to enjoy the best of natures gifts Health. You wrote however that you had been rather unwell for a few days but I think the cool weather will benefit your health & revive you all For my part I continue as usual to enjoy the best of health and I am careful to retain it

How different is my situation from that of my friend Saml Tucker [Samuel P. Tucker] "Poor Fellow" He returned again last Monday evening to this city from the mines, sick discouraged & completely worn out & he hardly knew what to do, or cared what became of himself. This is the third time he had returned from the mines & the second time he has had the Fever & Ague, & he says now that he shall never leave this city again until he returns home.

I was surprised to see him as he & John [John Keep] & Wm Keep [William Keep] calculated when they left here to remain at the mines until Spring & then to see him back here again within four weeks so changed, pale, face & limbs much swollen weak & debilitated, was to me unexpected, but I went to work & assisted him what I could & finally took him to Mrs Millers where I used to board & his health is now fast improving, but he wishes himself at home again I assure you & I think that if he or I ever live to see the good old town of Pepperell again (which I hope we