cam_Helen_B017_F003_002B

where we stopped one night and where he could hav [have] comfortable
quarters and good attendance I should Judge. _ Poor Mrs Eldridge I
do pity her very much often think of her, it seems that her miserable
health & present condition was as much as she could endure and to have
added to it the still greater trouble the loss of her husband, her cup of
sorrow must indeed be ful [full] – it seems as if afflictions had followed
her since she left her home to join her husband – she seemed to anticipate
and did appear very happy after she met her husband and remarked
she had no desire to returne [return] to Falmouth,Massachusetts – by Capt Es [E's] letter to G. I judge
she was not very well contented after the novelty wore off although ill
health is enough to destroy happiness any where [anywhere] – Capt E. did not
leav [leave] to take charge of a Steamer on the Lake as people seemed to
understand in F. but on the San Juan River as he wrote G, a
Steamer on the Lake would have furnished Mrs E. with comfortable
accomodations [accommodations] I should judge, as they are quite large and well built
boats but the River boats are miserable little things – Capt E. remarked
in his letter that Capt Baldwin gave him the situation he should try
and make what he could out of it hoping it would lead to
something better he said the 3^1/2 years past had been a blank in his
life he hoped to do better now at least to make enough to pay his debts,
that, that Whittier affair would about use up what he had in F. _ I
thought he wrote as if he regretted leaving Cal. [California] and rather downspirited
I could not wonder considering all circumstances poor man he has
got through with this world and all its troubles – It will doubtless be
some satisfaction to Mrs E. that she has seen & passed some time with
her husband previous to his death although it seems to be attended
with so many unpleasant circumstances it must detract much from it.

______ I suppose you will like to hear what news with us now. I can
say as usual we are well G. is busy about these times Mr Riley being
below – expect him up today – Today is another Sabbath and I imagine
you are at church or have been by this time you are about lighting
your lamps and drawing round the table or fire for evening –

It is a lovely day with us and more quiet than usual I should judge
as I do not think there have been so many people in to trade – I think
you spoke in one of your letters of doing business on the sabbath I
was thinking the other day I would say something of it in my letter
I think the Sabbath should be set apart as a day of rest and departure
from business but as the state of things are in Cal [California] particularly at the
mines it would seem impossible to do it that is for the trader if others
would it would be easy enough – but the customers are miners who work