Transcription
Cerro Gordo
28th June 1868
Dear Fanny,
Your favor of 30th May is just received. I am very glad to hear from you and that you are well. I see that you think I do not write to you, but can assure you that I write every month. I wrote you a very long letter the last of May and explained to you, which I hope you have received. You remember you told me in a previous letter you would have sent me one of your carte de visite if they had only been finished, and hope you will not fail to send me one.
It is pleasant here now, and the prospects here are a little better than when I wrote you last.
You say you wonder why I stay in such a poor place. I will tell you. When I had the pleasure of seeing you last, I was almost certain of concluding a trade about some property in Nevada County, by which I would have realized at least five thousand dollars in cash. At the same time I was offered a good position there. I was also offered a good position to go to Montana, but as I had previously promised to go on this prospecting trip, I left my affairs in the hands of an attorney and concluded to prospect about six months, and whether I found anything or not, expected to have enough to settle down permanently at some business.
Well, so far I have been disappointed in everything. The trade that I felt so certain of has proved a failure—have realized nothing from it and don’t expect to. Then, found some rich ore here, enough to induce me to invest everything in it, and after nearly one year work am not sure yet of realizing anything for it. Don’t you think I have been disappointed almost enough, or is there any more to come? If so, I hope they will come soon, and really think that one is foolish to care anything for a miner that seems to be always disappointed. How much pleasanter it is when one can say mine cows, mine hogs, or mine stock.
You said nothing you can [?] possibly rival my letters for dullness—I don’t think it possible, and the longer you make yours the better I will like it.
I will try and do a little better next time. If you have hard work to read this you will blame my pen and being nervous. I hope this will find you well and that you will write often. Please give my regards to Mr. and Madam Smith.
Your friend truly,
Jno. L. Porter
P.S. Please address
J. L. Porter
Cerro Gordo
Lone Pine District
Inyo Co., Cal
And I will receive your letters sooner.
