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Continued Dear Friends I have fast written over a sheet in a most hasty and hurried manner & it is the first I have written since I left fort Laramie. I should not have written even now but a man starts from this place early tomorrow morning and is going to San Francisco & will take all letters left to his care and bring back all letters directed to our names returning in about 2 weeks so I have stopped here at the village got me some paper & have sat down in a kind stranger's tent put a board on a half Bbl. for a table & thus I am trying to send you a few lines that you may know that I am well, feel rugged, feel in good Spirits, & being pretty seasoned to hardship I think I shall be able to dig & I feel confident that I shall in no distant time be able to be quite comfortable and have a plenty. I intend to remain near here this winter but in the spring I shall get into the best diggins if possible. I can make comfortably well here & am new provision. I have made from 6 to 15 dollars with my pan by working hard but it is no play to work in the mines and a great many make no more than 2 or 3 dollars. I have worked with a pan. I am now going to work with a washer & hope to do better but it is all chance. I know some are getting rich fast. I have not worked near all the time for a week now I have not done a thing in the mines but I have made my machine & am going at it to morrow. The weather is rather cool now & the water is cold & I have not till now been smart enough to smash in among the rocks & dirt. I intend to go down to the city bye & bye. I hope you are well & I hope this man will bring in lots of good news when he comes back. I shall then write immediately and tell you all the news and answer your letters. With love Chas Reed
[left-hand side] Give my love to all my friends, Mother, Brothers & Sisters. I wish you all a merry Christmas & a happy New Year. I hope to meet you again after a time & to have a good time here hearing good news often. You must write often & direct to Sacramento City. Well Good night & Good Bye Chas Reed