09. Harry's Letters, August-September 1865

the public." I am delighted that you have proved yourself capable of contentment in a monotonous habit of life; for one of these days I shall have to test your stoicism in that direction; for Carson becomes very dull at times. However the society here -- in "our set" -- is very pleasant; and you can find many agreeable associates while I am at the office. How does that sound?

God bless you Nellie and keep you in health and happiness. Be certain that nothing short of an unforseen or unavoidable accident shall ever deprive me of the pleasure of writing regularly or cause you to be disappointed in the receipt of letters.

Love to all. Ever thine affectionately

Henry R. Mighels

By Steamer.

[Postmark:] faint

[in pencil]: Sept 13 1865

Miss Nellie Verrill

Norway Village

Maine.

Carson Sept 24th 1865 Dear Nellie:- Sunday has rolled around again and its freedom from business cares gives me an opportunity to send you greeting before the departure of "the next steamer". I wish I could say that this is a quiet Sunday; but as Newman [Scaggs?] said "it is on the contrary, quite the reverse". Most good people have closed their shops, it is time, and the fire bell which rang slowly and solemnly, this morning reminds me that church services are being held-and attended, I hope; and in so far as the more reputable Carsonites are concerned, they are doubtless observing the day as becomes a

Christian people. But that wicked and boisterous old chap Boreas is holding high carnival and making a deal of disturbance. As I write, in the office of my friend Nightingill, the Controller, the screaming, moaning wind shakes the iron blinds and whisks great clouds of dust past the windows which keep up a continual racket like a rickety loom. I have just told Jackson, the contraband who attends to the conservation of neatness about these apartments to keep the doors carefully closed to keep out the dust, and so am I reminded of somebody's words, in a winter song: "Go close the door and the shutters bar, that within may be peace tho' without is war"-- You are fresher from your readings of the poets than I, and will doubless remember

who it was that wrote those lines; -- I do not. (I observe that this paper is considerably soiled. Charge it to the weather and the insinuating dust, and not to my untidiness.)

We, that is, the association of printers who own the Appeal and whose stipendiary I am, have purchased a new office -- or as you will better understand it, a new set of materials, presses, types, job fixtures &c and we have moved from our old place to a much pleasanter and more eligible one on the "plaza" as all Californians, in imitation of the Spanish style, call the public square. In a few days I shall have a neat, cozy little sanctum; and at present I do my writing for the paper, just where I now