Transcription:
of last spring, when I say that it is a year and more since I wrote a line to my aunt and cousins in Texas. My Uncle Erwin
who came out with his family last June, is living down opposite Vallejo, but his youngest child Janie has been staying here
with us the past three months. They are all still very much dissatisfied with California and want to return to their Texas
home. Mother has been away since Thursday, having taken Janie and gone up the Stockton river to visit Mr. Kimbell's family
who live near Wells' Landing. They are old Texas friends whom your mother used to know very well. Wouldn't it be splendid
if for once the old home acquaintances could all be collected together, say at a quilting or Christmas festival of the old
fashion Just fancy the wonderful recital of experiences, recollections, and perhaps thrilling ad- ventures that we younger
folks might come to hear at such a time. How should you like to go back to our native State, Nellie, and see everything for
yourself? By and by, when an iron steed goes flying across the plains and 2 on to Honey Grove, I shall want to be there
for a little while; but know I could never be satis- fied to consider any other but California as my true home. And it is
here in our own Golden State that I want most to travel, to see its wonders and grand scenery, and its people as well. As
it is I have seen so very little; go very seldom even to San Francisco, an then for a day or two only: but for some months,
we have been hoping and planning over the promised coming of the Railroad through our town, when it will be less trying and
tedious a journey to go beyond the encircling hills of Alhambra Valley. Our valley has seemed very beautiful though, the last
month with its trees and vines tinted with hues of autumn. Some of the foreign grape vines especially have shown in masses
of yellow and crimson and flame, but the wonder was short lived, for the beating rain came and left only bare branches. I
have been dry- ing a quantity of the leaves, and there is such variety of marking and color, that after being varnished, they
will make beautiful wreaths. 3