Vallejo, Cal.

Nov 29-1880.

 

Dear Alice,

                        I wrote you a postal on the cars as I came along, and one for Frank also, and quite a lot for Mama, and I mailed a letter for Mama Saty. a.m. I hope you have received them all. And that you are all well. I have wondered a good many times how your knee is now? And how you and Frank get along at school, and how you get back and forth, as I noticed in the papers that you had had a snow storm. How does George get along? I was in hopes that I should be home this winter, and now that my examination is over I could have / helped you both a little in your studies. It seems lonesome & quiet enough here I can tell you. The ship wont be ready before the middle of Jany. & I could just as well have been in New York two or three weeks longer.

 

            While I think of it, tell Mama that I called on the Bowyers, and Mrs B— told me that M^r Spooner is married to a girl in Warners store.

 

            I have been around this afternoon looking at some rooms. I thought I would get rooms & take my meals elsewhere, but the best rooms I have seen are kennels, dirty, smell bad, & are forlorn looking. Mr & Mrs Bowyer have a dreadful looking room, very small, a very little larger than Franks room, & not half so nice looking. And that is the best they can do. / I expect I shall have to stop where I am, tho' I hate to.

 

            I hope you still like your school. I will send you & Frank some money soon as I can get my accounts fixed up at the Yard.

 

            I am glad you did not come with me. There are no schools here of any account, and I think it is a forlorn place, not equal even to Ramseys, and down in San Francisco they have a good deal of small pox. They talk some of closing the schools. I should not like to leave you here or in San Francisco when I go away. The climate here is very mild as compared with East of course. The sun shines brightly every day, flowers blooming on all sides, it looks more like an Eastern autumn / but the nights are more like March. Each morning there is a thick white frost, so thick that it looks like snow. I don't think I shall fall very much in love with California. The climate may be agreeable, but I think that is about all I can say just now of the place.

 

            Remember me to all at 133 West 41^st St. Tell Mama I sent her a cheque in Satys letter. Will write her on Wednesday or Thursday. I am looking for a letter.

 

            Tell George I send him a kiss, and much love, and that he must not cry.

 

            Remember me to all at 235.

 

            Write me sometime when you have leisure. Don't hurry about it, as I know your studies will give you plenty of writing & keep you busy enough, so take your time. Much love for Mama, Frank & George, & yourself,

                                                                                   

from, Papa

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