1870 Yosemite Valley May 15th My dear friend Emily I would gladly climb to the top our highest rocks to find out whether
you are on this or the other side of the rocky mtns Can it be that you are indeed in California. If this be a fact it has
some rare unbelievable properties that make it hard to comprehend But with faith like a grain of mustard seed I will go on
to believe that you are verily in Yuba. Well illegible I congratulate you upon your arrival in this Pacific land of gold I
mean the gold of Yellow comps' that cover the plains You must be very weary of that long ride I should think that a week of
car locomotion on such hillocky railroads would sift in margin: Camps of dirty batchelors. There is about fifty visitors
here at present. The valley is very beautiful. Summer illegible is in full gushing illegible the falls are very high from
the melting of the upper snows. illegible will hoping to see you soon that you will illegible all the health benefits from
your long journey that you hope for. Ever yours John M