Gold Rush Era Letters

promised to return to them. how is my dear boy sometimes when I think of him I ketch [catch] myself imagining him great big fellow as big as Charles. I have no doubt he has been big enough to go out in the garden & pull mamas flowers & strawberries this summer. Kiss the dear fellow for me a thousand times & tell him pa will soon be home. Alas I fear he has forgotten pa except by the habit of talking about him with you No matter I will soon learn him to know & love me again. I had hoped to have found time to have written to your father & Walter before this time but really before I was taken sick I had not the time & since I have not been able. I must now close my letter as sheet & my strength is both growing short & as I wish to write to father this evening. fare well [Farewell] my dear sweet beloved wife thou purest of women. Continue to love your absent husband as you did when he was [word covered by stain] & you will satisfy a heart entirely wrapt [wrapped] up in you. Continue our letters we send them to "Sacremento [Sacramento] City" Enclosed you [word covered by stain] receive some flour. Your faithful & affectionate handsome I think [words covered by stain] full Handsome Husband B. A. Watson

if they will [words covered by stain] find I have lost most of them

[Vertically]:

Mrs. El R Watson Springfield Ills