Transcript: Stangroomletter18571215

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Henceforth address to me at Michigan Bluffs 15th December 1857 Placer County U.S. Cal. My Dearest Mother From the superscription of this sheet you will gather that [illegible] some of the nomadic habits of my family and that we are all of us literally wanderers on the face of the earth. About a month ago, following the principle of Mahomet and the mountains, I determined to set out in search of business, as it did not seem to be making any very conscious enquiries about me. We accordingly on the 17th of last month, after having packed up our household goods, consisting of 3 chairs and [illegible] your own presents and [illegible] property together with lots of things which Em’s mother has let us have, we made up [illegible] a load of traps for Michigan Bluffs and bidding adieu to Nevada started in the stage for Sacramento. We stayed there 4 days to buy what little furniture we absolutely wanted, provisions enough to last us through the winter, and some other little things Emily wanted. By the by, Charlotte may yet perhaps aspire to attain in 4 or 5 months the venerable title of Aunty; at all events, I should not be very much surprised at such an event occurring about that time. We came back as far as Auburn (halfway both to Nevada and to this place) and stayed there 2 days with a friend, the same at whose

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house we stayed a week 2 years ago, if you remember. We should have much liked to stay a few days longer among pleasant people, but as the rainy season had already cast its shadows before we had to hurry on to get settled before the reign of wet [illegible] set in. I had been over here before to look for a house and had not found much difficulty in making a selection for this reason. As I told you, I believe in the letter that went down with the Central America, the "City" of Michigan Bluffs was erased by fire a week before my first appearance in it, or rather in its place, on my return from my prospecting trip in the mountains. Since then, it has been rebuilt as well or better than it was [illegible] accommodations as they [illegible] required, as newcomer is almost [illegible] to the alternative of building himself a house, or doing without one. I succeeded, however, at last in finding a desirable family mansion consisting of 2 small rooms and still smaller kitchen, the whole being exceedingly well ventilated and bearing the impress of its creator, a Dane by birth, a tailor by education, a miner by occupation when at work, and in the present instance (may it be the last) a carpenter by choice when idle. California has a great name for making new trades for men, though there must have been in his case an intractability of material that could not be overcome. I wished to be able to have a bed for Em's mother who is coming to live with us, as also to have an office in the house, but was considered quite

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unreasonable in my requirements and have had to adopt Hobson's choice and live here until spring, hoping either to find some more comfortable house, or to be able to build one for myself by that time. We stayed a week at a boarding house until we had made the house a little more habitable by caulking the floors and until our things had arrived from Sacramento. Tomorrow a carpenter is going to put up a little room 7 feet long and 6 wide for our "spare bedroom”" and provision store room together (large rooms are cold and uncomfortable in winter). You will think me aristocratic to employ a carpenter at $6 a day to do what I could do nearly as well myself. I meant to do it, but I sprained my ankle a week ago and have been unable to do much since [illegible]. I do not expect it to be quite well [illegible] consideration. I consider the case of the "old woman who lived in a stall" to be "nowhar" compared to ours. Emily caught a bad cold coming up here from Auburn and has been unwell most of the time since our arrival. There are, I believe, one or two pleasant ladies here, but we do not yet know them and as, if I have any business (so far I have been very fortunate and have already made enough to keep us a month since we have been here), I shall be away from home a good deal, I have written to Mrs. Mather to come over as soon as she can to stay with us. According to present appearances, I may in time get a good business here, though it is hard

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to tell. There are 3 or 4 surveyors in this county, but as none of them live within 15 miles and have not much to recommend them but the sound of their own trumpets, I do not think they will be very formidable rivals here on my own walk. My mining is so far only [illegible] and I cannot expect to know my fate, success (or failure), far less to realize anything, for some months to come. A lady friend of ours in Sacramento gave us a young canary to start housekeeping with, but the poor little thing caught a bad cold coming up and has, I am afraid, permanently spoilt its voice. It is, however, already a great favourite and spends part of its time hopping about all over the house, inspecting things generally. This is so far our only pet. A fawn who has next door [illegible]. As you say, too much [illegible] breeds despise and [illegible] this afternoon we received gentle hints that its room was more acceptable than its company. I have not heard from you for a long time and do not even know where you are, though I suppose you are at Nice. I suppose, however, Charly is at Geneva and will get this. I am sorry to hear that Grandmama has such poor health. Give my love to her. My old watch, after repeated "tinkerings up", has finally refused to go any more. As I am very much in want of one, I will write to Paul Brez by this mail to send me as good a silver watch as he can for 200 francs, which he will be paid at Geneva on applying to you. Grandmama’s present will that way be very useful to me. With best love to Papa, Charlotte and the Bairns, believe me, Dearest Mother, your affectionate son M. L. Stangroom