cams_OAyers_b12_F005_005_002

in a degree the longing anxiety of
return and again revisit thos [those] scenes
made dear to early recollections but
I hardly credit that they ever become
fully eradicated, and often the most
carless [careless] or reckless appearing cast a wishfull [wishful] eye
to some far off spot, halowed [hallowed] by memory
and wish perchance they might see it again

Yesterday a Mr Shepard from Penn I believe
came here and is now writing along side
of me; he is a cousin to G Hooken & Musumper
I had a slight acquaintance with him
in the states, he went through our claim
yesterday traversing the crooked wayes [ways] of the
miners life and was somewhat at a loss
to keep true reckoning of his course
thought he was never so far under
tera-firma [terra-firma] before My health has been quite
good lately I have not been working quite
as steady as formerly owing to there not being room
in our claim for all hands so we take turns
in work I weigh 172 pounds rather heavyer [heavier]
than for some years before I have had one
letter from Amelia since she left home
but she gave me no directions and
had she I presume they would have been
of no avail as she does not seem
very stationary at any point I hope
she will be happy and content in her choice