Kelsys Digings April 25th / 52
Dear Carrie
I write You a few Hasty Lines this Time, Just to inform You that I am well Yet with the Exception of Sore Eyes which has Lately Come over Me. I am Still Trying to Get My Pile So I may Come & see You & the Little Girls. This is Sunday Morning, & rather a Gloomy day, that it is rainy & the Last week we did not do Much, Just paid Board. I Have Just been Out & pickd Some Greens for Dinner, & Let down to write you although I Have Nothing particular to write about. I have been up here in the Mines 3 Months & Have Not Struck anything of Consequence Yet. It Cost a Great deal to Live Here, Notwithstanding we are Able [?] to those exorbitant Prices, better Here than at Home. I am still in Company with Mr. Starkweather & Son, May & Foster Still Lives in the Same Log Cabin, & are well Digging away in Hopes of Striking something. I see them every Day or two. I want to See You bad enough & the Little Girls also but Cannot bear the Idea of Coming Home without Money. Now I am Here I want to Give it a fair Trial. I May Come Home this fall if I am Lucky. I received a few days ago your Letter dated feb 9th. Likewise one from Addeline. I notice what You Say about Your dreams. I wish it was in realality. Before Leaving this Country I shall Try to Make Some arangements to move out Here the whole Party of us. How do you Like that, I see by your Letter you say you would as Soon Live Here, as Como is Getting to be Such a Dull Place, what upon Earth Makes it So Dull. When your Old Fage or old Pap as the Little Girls used to Call me, it was not Dull. Old Betty you Say is Dead God Bless Her, I Hope she is at Rest, did Her Knees Straighten any before She died. How is the [...?] & How many Have You now when you write again tell me all about them & all about everything. I requested you to write me where Robert Pollack was Burried as I never Pass a Burial Place without Searching for Him. I have not seen or Heard from Frank Hodges Yet. You wished to be advised about the Farm & About the Man You Have with you. I dont Know as I Can advise but do whatever You & Theodore think best But Can advise this far, dont fall in Love with Your Favorite Man & run off with Him. Then I should Old Carrie when I Come Back to talk California with. Why dont you Make Old Add write me when you write Tell Old Hette I believe She is the best Old Gall & I will Put in a piece of Gold in this Letter for Her. I Have sent Several Pretty Pieces Since I Have been up Here in the Mines, You Have not Told Me wether You ever Got them or Not, perhaps you Have as I Have two mails due Yet. You say Capt Sim talks of Coming to Cal. When & where is he agoing to Locate. I suppose you would Like to Come with Him if So write Me all about it. How does Caroline feel Since His Return. Has Julia Sampson Got a Baby Yet. Tell Her I should to see it. I am Sorry to Hear My Old Friend Jason is so poorly. All I Can say is I Hope You will Live & Have Your Healths & Enjoy Yourselfs the Best You Can until I Come Home. I shall Try & Come in a Shape that will Gladden Your Hearts. Remember Me to all enquiring Friends. Tell them I often think of them. Tell Mrs Pollack I notice what She says about my Coming Home & She will forgive me for not fetching that Gold Tea Pot, tell Her I Know She wants One So Bad I endeavor to satisfy Her. Kiss All the Little Girls for me & Charly Boy two or three times & believe
Ever Yours
James M. Burr