Osborn Ayer - Gold Rush correspondence

Iowa Hill

Dear Brother

After a hard dayes [days] work I sit to write a few lines to friends at home I did not receive any letters by last mail but got twoo [two] papers & sent one letter and twoo [two] papers in return

I hardley [hardly] think this will find you at home but cannot tell what course you will deem advisable to persue [pursue] I suppose I shall know something more by next mail which may be here ere

I close this letter I was just now up town to see if the steamer had been telegraped [telegraphed] yet but find it has not yet arrived it was due last night

We have had several days storm snow at first and then rain cleared off this afternoon

as warm and pleasant as may [May] weather at home I suppose you have some quite disagreeable weather there now but then you can make times pleasant in disagreeable weather there visiting the girls &C [etc.] here we Old Bachelors have no remedy, after having exhausted our fund of conversation on various topics of by gone days we relaps [relapse] into moody silence or stroll listlessy [listlessly] about town seeking some topic to relieve this tedium of the hour There was quite a sene [scene] enacted close to our cabin tonight

A crazy woman who lives our closest neighbor ran through the street dressed in the antique costume worn by old father Adam & Eve before they took to eating fruit She caused quite a stir and fought stoutly to have her own way in matters of dress

I am still working in the Iowa Hill making small wages and looking forward to more prosperous times I have been trying to get a share in a clame [claim] over at Grizly [Grizzly] but as yet have not succeeded. I have not been over there for the past twoo [two] weeks but shall go over next sunday [Sunday] if nothing hapens [happens]

When you write let me know what all the folks are doing around there I suppose Mr Dodges people are there yet Evry [Every] thing which transpires there is of interest to me so do not fail to fill up with it items

How did Mr Bullises [Bullis'] law suit go Where is Harriett Kirby give her my respects if you choose I think I will leave the rest of this sheet untill [until] I see whether the male [mail] will arive [arrive] in time to answer by return

Dear Brother I have just received a letter from you and the girls I have no time to write nor anything new either

I am glad to learn of your good health &c [etc.] I congratulate sister Lib & Omar on family affairs in haste

I remain as ever

Osborn

Apr [April] 3^d L T Me

Will answer next mail

O A

Grizzly Flats

Dear Brother

Again I am under a three fold obligation in the way of letters from home having recieved [received] three since last working Last mail closed several days sooner owing to the accident and delay of the steamer North Stun the previous trip This delay would not have been thus long only for the above circumstances Your Over land letter came safe to hand but I am inclined to believe it came by water despite the directions as had it not it should have arrived a week or ten dayes [days] sooner as it was it came together with one written by Gabrilia & Mother a week later Yesterday I recieved [received] another from your hand It bore as usual the welcome intelligence of your health and usual prosperity at home Although very minute items of news of evry [every] deserption [description] have an interest to me yet the first glance of inquring [inquiring] on breaking the seal is, Is it well with those at home? Time distance and the busy turmoils of daily life may blunt