Bernard House

Vallejo, Cal.

Jany. 17^th 1881.

 

Dear Alice,

                        Your letter of 3^rd I received, & was very glad to hear from you, and that you were enjoying your holidays. You seem to have had a pretty good time. I hope you have received the five dollars I sent for you & Frank. I sent it along with the can for George & cheque from San Francisco for Grandma. I think I sent it on 4^th so you would get it on the 12^th or 13^th. I had to wait some days before I could get a five paper, it is mostly gold & silver here except large bills. Am glad to hear you get along well at school, tho' Mama says neither you nor Frank like it. Of course it may not be so pleasant, and easy as in Erie but it is a much better school. / If you were to change in New York the teachers might not be even as nice or pleasant as those you now have, scholars might be disagreeable, schools not so clean, or there would be something else, so try & get along. I wish it was nearer home, so you would not have such a long tramp, down & back. Mama says you are getting taller and fatter than ever, I would like to know when or where you are going to stop? I think you had better wait & let Frank catch up with you. However, so long as you are well, and that your knee is all right I won't complain, if you do grow fat and saucy.

 

            I am glad you keep up so well in your studies. You must have pretty good teachers I think, just / think of them once in a while, how tired they must be at the end of the week. I think I should like to have seen Uncle Tom's Cabin at the Academy myself.

 

            Are you to wear that knee cap all the time? What does D^r P—^y say?

 

            We have had a very pleasant day today, windows all open, not a cloud to be seen, but the rain came in torrents early a.m. They say it is getting ready for a long storm. There is nothing to write of from this place, the days are all alike, I believe I go to bed before you do mostly. I shall have something more to do in a few days, then the time won't seem so long.

 

            I have been down to the city a number of times, have seen all I want to of the place except I spent Sunday there, or remained overnight & went to a / theatre, which I don't care to just now. I might feel more lonesome if I did not see Mrs Niles occasionally at the table, and hear her prattling all over the hotel. she is a thousand times more silly than ever, to my mind, she is so pleased with herself that she does not know how to act. She says she always thought a good deal of you, I told her that I did too.

 

            Remember me to Emma & Mercidete & M^rs H & Zabriski.

 

            Next time you write I want you to tell me what your studies are. Remember me to all at 133.

 

Much love, from

Papa,

 

Tell Geo I wish he was in California with me now.

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