Transcription:
Martinez, California, August, 7th, 1887. Dear brother Dan. We all congratulate you on your marriage, which was not un- -expected,
we hope that much happiness is yet in store for you in this every-changing world. Our little Helen has been very sick but
is now nearly well again. We now know what the agony of the loss a child is for we had lost hope for a time of her recovery.
I am all nerve shaken, lean as a crow louded with care work worry the care worry will soon wear away I hope but the work seems
rather to increase, certainly this is more than enough of it to keep me out of mischief forever. Besides the ranch I have
undertaken a big literary job an illustrated work on California Alaska. most of the 01273