Gold Rush Era Letters

Before I left home I should have considered my situation a miserable one, but long in this I have got used to poor living, & do not mind sleeping on the floor or ground & going without my dinner occasionally, & sometimes oftener.

You advise me to keep every bit of gold that I get to myself. You need not fear but what I shall do that for that is an easy matter when compared with the trouble of getting it which is not the "easiest thing in the world" although I am in a gold country. Esq. Jewett wrote that money was very tight & hard to be got, & said that he & my friends thought I had not better draw on him for any more until I was of age. He also wished to know whether or not I was coming home this summer & if I should want him to send me a part or all of the funds in his hands belonging to me, & he also wrote the same as you did with regard to the draft on him for $500. that it had never been presented to him which has made no difference to me as I have been enabled to pay Mr. Wm Walton [William Walton] the $700 I borrowed of him together with the interest in full & I have now got $400. loaned for which I recieve [receive] 3 per cent [percent] per month interest which is a little better than 6 pr ct [percent] per year. It is perfectly safe too. I think I shall write Esq. J. to write me the amount now due me with the exception of my interest in the real estate, & to send me 500$ or 1000$ as soon as he can conveniently do so for I think I may as well have it out here, for I shall

[written vertically in the left margin over the horizontal text] remain here until another Spring & that I should like to have him write me the amount now due me now in hand & aside from Real Estate, Bills &c also to hand to Jef Lackin as soon as he likes $500 for me.

Give my love to C. & H. & to Mr T's family & tell them all they may expect to hear from me by the next mail.

I will now close. Accept the kind wishes for your health & happiness of Your affct [affectionate] Son H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]