Gold Rush Era Letters

he owes a great deal of money & by the way he works about I guess they would soon make up their minds that he was not very rich --

One thing however I must say of him which I can say of but few in California & that is that he is strictly temperate as regards the use of Rum & Tobacco. He also seems to be industrious but after all a fortune is not made quite so soon here as some people imagine No doubt he is getting along comfortably well & he appears to like here --

You will please give my love to Charles & Harriet Mr. T. & his family & my kind regards to Esq Jewett & his family, also to all my friends

So I have recieved [received] no letters from Mr. T's family for two mails past I do not think I shall write them this mail as I have nothing interesting to relate at the present time

With this please accept the love & kind wishes of Your affectionate Son H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

Write often

To Mrs Ann Parker E. Pepperell MS

so well of [off] as far as money was concerned, as when I first arrived here, (the above we will keep to ourselves) but during that time I learned some experience which I intend to profit by for the time to come. Unless a person has got some good trade they can do but little here unless they have some capital to work with --

To be sure I had about a $1,000 the first year that I was out here, but as I only had $400 or $500 at a time I could not seem to invest it to any advantage, still if I had known then what I know now, I could have done much better than what I have done, but as talking does no good, I will only say that I am going to try & lay by something during the coming year providing I am blessed with good health & a fair share of good luck.

Money is not to be picked up here in the streets -- far from it -- still if a person exerts himself & is saving they can do much better here than in the Atlantic States, so I think I had better remain here about two years longer & try & do something Dont [Don't] you think so too?

Hoping that we may all be prosperous & happy, I remain Your affct [affectionate] Son

H. A. Parker [Henry A. Parker]

To Mrs Ann Parker E. Pepperell Ms