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Downieville Dec 4th 1853 Dear Mr. Chandler, Your letter dated Oct 9th has come to hand.I am happy to hear you are all well at home. This good news gives me joy, makes me happy. I am happily disappointed to gear that not one of our number has been removed by the hand of death. I opened Your letter with delight yet feared I should soon see the announcement of a removal of some one or more of our family by the hand of death. But the news contained in your letter dispels all my fears & doubts & hope tells me I may yet meet my Mother, Brothers & Sisters, again. The thought is delightful- I again am happy in the belief that we may all meet again. Providence has indeed been kind, this to watch over and preserve our lives & give us health & strength. It is right to attribute our present Joy to the kindness & mercy of our Father in Heaven. I was anxious to hear the true state of matters at W_. As you say, I have been hoping for the best. My thought has oft been turned heavenward, beseeching God on the behalf of my mother, Br Sis & Friends. Know, that I am informed, that Heaven has smiled on your pathway, preserved you all, & you are enjoying health & prosperity, -while many around you are numbered with the dead, I can only say, God is indeed merciful, & may we all strike to be more worthy his kindness & protection. Dear Br, I have been richly paid for writing, for, I rec'd 3 letters, for One - It was very kind in you, to answer my letter so soon, & it gave me great pleasure to see that all my friends felt disposed to contribute a few lines; this evidence of remembrance gives great Satisfaction - At few L15 [left-hand side] Chandler You will please remember me to Your wife. Tell her I hope she will find a happy home at my Old Home. Sam'l Keeps rather still. Why do not he write. I am sorry to hear of his ? position & sore hand. [Top] You will probably remain at home this winter. I hope you will pass a pleasant winter. I have purchased a claim 2m cc I wrote, gave quite a price but I think it a bargain yet. I was prevented from walking about 4 weeks by a sore hand. Since I wrote I was a Bruised or feeling cursed by working is taking cold as soon as it got well. I be again working for my new place & answering here now--last week it ? quite a storm but now it is fine weather and we can work. I should like to hear how you are getting along on the old farm. You may think I have got rich but you are mistaken. I don't expect now to get very rich yet. I think I shall do better nevertheless than I should at home. The fact is getting gold is very uncertain and very ?