December the 11 18 &-3 Cal
            Caloo [illegible] County

Dear uncle I hope these fiew lines may find you injoying the same blessing that i am at present . I received your letter a short time ago it gave me grate satisfaction to heare from you and to heare you wer all well. It was the first letter I hav received from eny of the connection. I some times thinke you have all forgotten me or never new me it is so seldom I here from you. I would like to heare from you very much. all tho I would like to see you much better. I was in hopes I could come home this fall but I can not come. I hardley no when I can. I have quit mining and teeming. I am farming at present. i think it the best business in the country at the time, I have taken up a peace of land on the Sacrimento river west of Mariz vill on the west side of the river. it is the best land I have saw in the country, we rase from forty to sixty bushels of wheat and barley, we are trading some in stock. There are three of us, we have a bout three thousand dollars worth at present in the place. We have fine rang for stock heare the year round. Times are rather hard here. At present wages are herdting from fifty to seventy five dollars per month, stock is very hy. At the present cattle that crost this year is selling from sixty to seventy five dollars a head.