Gold Rush Era Letters

San Francisco Nov 28th Sunday.

My Dear Mother,

Your kind letter dated as East Pepperell Oct 17th was recieved [received] last Sunday --

I was happy to hear of the continued good health you have enjoyed the past summer & the present Autumn

Hope you will continue to be blessed with health and prosperity, together with Charles, Hattie & all my friends

My health is good & has been so ever since my arrival in this golden country, which is to be prized above gold. Next to good health the greatest blessing allowed me is the privilege of hearing from you all every fortnight which I have done thus far since the 20th August. & I hope I shall continue to do so as long as I remain in this country & I shall endeavor to write you by every mail even if (as you say) I do not write, but a few words. You can have no idea of the pleasure it gives me to fenese a kind letter from my now distant home, & more particularly when recieved [received] from my best friend on earth -- a kind Mother whose kindness towards me I hope I may yet be allowed to return. Since I last wrote you I have changed my lodgings from the store which I formerly owned to a little room near my place of business & I now have two roommates. Samual P. Tucker & a young man by the name of Eli Harrison who formerly lived with Appleton Lawrence in Pepperell, & we enjoy ourselves first rate

over

(text on left border) Tuesday Eve. Nov. 30th Am well. The mail close at 10 O'clock. I have not had time to write to Charles or Hattie but shall send H. a paper. Hope you are all well and that you will write me often, shall expect a letter from you the last of this week as the as the mail is now nearly due. Your Loving Son H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]