04. Harry's Letters, March-May, 1865

[Apr 17 - 1865]

and a big bump of hope and the sweetest sweetheart in the world and believe that with all these "in the Lexicon of Youth, which fate reserves for a glorious manhood, there is no such word as fail" -- as Richlieu says.

I am going to send this letter by the overland-Mail which is daily -- when it goes. There is some little risk in sending overland; so my regular letters, I shall send per steamer.

Write to me as often as you can Nellie. I am glad you got my telegram and the music. I would send you my picture, but the fact is, I have never thought to have it taken when I could, as well as not.

I ought to write to Henry Rust. I believe I will tomorrow. I cant do it very well today. Oh! I'm a great procrastinator. But Henry shall have a letter, and so shall Lue. You may tell them so. I hope mother is well. Her letter, which I got today makes me anxious for her.

Remember me to all. Present my respects to the right honorable members of the C. L. L. Society and ask them if they can't make me an honorary member.

Ever Yours Affectionately Henry R. Mighels.

San Francisco May 15th / 65

Dear Nellie:

The Steamer from Panama got in this morning and I have just finished reading your letter of April 20th dated at Portland. And I hereby acknowledge your last letter from Norway which came to hand in due time.

I owe you lots of thanks for them both.

Last Friday I got a telegram from Carson City, Nevada, in the shape of an offer to take editorial charge of a daily newspaper. I have signified my acceptance and shall start on my journey to the Silver State this afternoon at four o'clock. It is now about 1 o'clock and as I have a great many matters to attend to I must make this letter extremely short and sweet.

As Old Burton, the actor, used

to say, "I laughed comsumedly" when I read your rejoinder to the "Reverend Melchisidec Howler". "To the bottom" was to the point and was a settler.

I can't tell you the name of the paper that I am to edit, for I dont know it myself. I only know that Lance Nightingill, the Controller of the State of Nevada, one of my oldest and best California friends telegraphed the request to come up; that I telegraphed back that I would do as he advised; that he then responded by stating the salary and wound up by saying "come immediately, if you accept" -- And I accepted. I suppose the paper is one to be started under the auspices of the State officials. If so it will afford a pleasant position and ought to pay well.

Carson City is the Capital of Nevada and is said to be the most desirable place of residence in the new State. I leave here this afternoon on the Sacramento boat; get to Sacramento tomorrow morning and then take the cars for Folsom. At Folsom, I get onto the stage for Placerville and thence to Carson over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I dont anticipate very much of a picnic in the trip. Riding all night in a stage coach is no enviable luxury -- but I reckon I can stand it, for sweet as I am I am not "constructed out of candy".

I believe I intimated in my last that there was a possibility of my going home shortly. That bubble has exploded. I could have gone, but the enterprise presented a poor prospect of being a paying

[May 15. 1865]

investment -- and money is the grand object of my sordid pursuit just now.

I don't like to be obliged to take up my residence in another new State, but I think I see an opportunity to better my fortunes, and perhaps to secure something like a competency. If things turn out fortunately I shall go home next summer and marry you! What do you think of that? There is only a little if in the road, and I feel too strong to be turned aside by so insignificant an impediment.

I feel very sure that I shall go home next spring if I am not beset, in the meantime by very much worse fortune than I anticipate now.

I will write to you from Carson and send you a copy of my paper. In the meantime continue to check your letters as heretofore until I get settled and apprise you. My love to Lue and Mary Goss and to all whom you and I number among our mutual friends. God bless you Nellie.

Your affectionately Henry R. Mighels

[left sideways margin] P. S. Please continue to let mother know you have heard from me. I haven't time to write to her now. Ever true H.