09. Harry's Letters, August-September 1865

Carson Aug 28th 1865

Nellie; I got your good letter of July 29th, last evening and am now trying to steal time enough from the printers, who are all the time bawling for "copy" -- to answer it. I must not forget to thank Byron for his pleasant greetings.

Along with this letter, I sent you a trifle of gold and gold bearing quartz, in the shape of a buckle, which I beg you to accept, as a birth day remembrance, from yours devotedly &c. I only wish it was of diamonds and weighed a ton. I ought to have sent you a ribbon to go with the buckle, but as I am no judge of the

proper quality of that sort of thing, I have concluded it best to leave it to your own good taste.

We have had a military ball since I wrote back. I think I told you that Governor Blasdel has made me a Major. Well, as in duty bound, I appeared in Major's uniform, and escorted the plump and charming daughter of one of our Supreme Judges to and through the "misty mazes". The name of that damsel is Mary Beatty. That dear creature has the credit of being engaged -- and she was so good as to tell me that she had heard that I was in the same delightful situation! I hope she has surmised

rightly -- and can only hope for you to prove it.

I sometimes get desperately out of patience with the life of drudgery and constant confinement, so unavoidable to an Editor. And I only wish I could follow this letter to it's destination. I have an inexpressible longing, night and day, to be by your side once more. I suppose I shall find it best to remain here during the coming winter -- but, like the trees, I shall do my best to leave in the Spring. Excuse the wretchedness of the pun -- I am too stupid to do better. It will be a model of prosy dullness - the Appeal of tomorrow morning.

As you will see by the time

and blunders of this haphazard letter, I am only writing, as I can catch a few moments of spare time. In fact, I ought to have written yesterday -- Sunday -- an idle day with me -- but I waited until evening, knowing that the mail would bring me a letter from you, and it being my purpose to answer that same -- Seriation -- as the lawyers say. But I have left it in my room. I will try and write you more at length before the sailing of the mail steamer.

I send you a new song which is much sung in San Francisco -- also a puff which I just cut out of a column from my newspaper.

Don't fail to give my best regards to Byron, Add and Wash and my love to Hatty and Emma -- and oh! If had forgotten her! -- Flo -- Kiss old Luty toot for me and accept my excuses for writing such an abnormally stupid letter. Remember me in your prayers Nellie darling and believe me ever thine

Affectionately Henry R. Mighels

[written sideways in left margin:]

P.S. Love to Mary Gosse and Byron's Sweetheart

Carson Nev. Aug 28/65

Dear Nellie: If I had been certain that my memory served me correctly, I should have had engraven upon the back of this buckle "A birth day present to Miss Nellie L. Verrill upon her completion of her 21st year, Sept 10th 1865. From her friend H.R.M". But I was not certain of the day 'tho' I believe I have the age and month right. -- And, to confess the truth, I failed to instruct the gentleman whom I commissioned to make the purchase for me in San Francisco, to leave any inscription put upon it --