Gold Rush Era Letters

For a few days, cucumbers sold for 37 1/2 cts apiece green corn, $2.50 per doz ears string beans 37 1/2 cts per pound, & squashes 37 1/2 cts per lbs, & they are so high now that I cannot afford to eat them.

I live alone & sometimes feel a little homesick or sick of home I hardly know which -- I miss Sam [Samuel P. Tucker], a good deal, for we have lived together for so long (5 months) that it seems as though I ought to find him in my room when I come home at night, the same as I used to do last winter, but where he is now I do not know as I have not heard from him since the 2nd of May. I suppose however that he in the vicinity of Columbia [Columbia, California], in company with the Wright Boys.

Shall probably hear from him soon as I wrote up to them last Friday. Suppose Sam is making money so fast that he cannot find time to write although I think he will do so before long as there are a number of letters for him at Turnbull & Waltons, from his Eastern friends. I think there is no doubt but what he is enjoying good health otherwise I think he would have written before now. I suppose J. A. has already heard from him, from his new quarters as he has been gone now, nearly two months, at any rate his friends need not borrow any trouble about him as he was quite smart before he went away from here & will probably enjoy better health in the mines than he did here providing he does not work too hard. It is now 10 Oclock [O'clock] & as I must be up early in the morning, I will lay aside my writing & bid you Good Night.