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December 25th 1852.

Here I come again, dear H. this whistling, Christmas Night, to tell you as how, I was so busy 
on the day of the sailing of the last steamer, that I couldn't get my letters to the office -- and 
the sports of the day being over, and the center table being wheeled up near the stove, to 
chat with you about the flood and a few other facts and fancies.

"A Flood"! say you. Yes, another flood - just to keep up the excitement, -- for be it known to 
you that the story of the fire was getting old -- threadbare -- worn out, -- despite all the thrilling 
incidents connected with it. Well, Californians can't well enjoy life without excitement, and as 
the flood is now an all absorbing topic, it may thus far be considered a positive blessing.

But you wish to know particulars. Well, last Saturday, the river was within a foot of the top of 
the Levee, and on Sunday morning, being indignant at the pressure, -- "if things inanimate 
ever grieve", or get indignant, -- it broke and the waters came rushing in with a rapidity that 
brought them over the part of the city by 9 o.c. at night. And it has remained ever since, 
though slowly falling; tonight the storms are gathering, and in a few days we

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may have another merry time of it. The only character that Sacramentans can be said to have, 
after a few more floods and fires shall have visited us, will be that of "amphibious Salamanders."

You ought to see the mud -- and our mud boots!

But here I am to night, by the stove as aforesaid, and half a dozen chaps around it are talking 
about all kinds of strange and startling adventures that they have met with in this country. What 
a mess! Let me see, -- one from N. York one from Ohio, one from N. Hampshire and from N. 
Jersey, one from Ireland, a lady from Virginia, an Indian girl, of the Digger tribe and myself, 
all the way from "Pike County"!

The brogue of the Irishman, and the singularly soft and amusing dialect of the Indian princess, 
are sufficient to keep one in a pleasant humor continually, and it would be strange that, having 
enjoyed a portion of this Christmas day very much, -- towit, that at the festive table -- could sit 
down to write you anything else but contented nonsense.
	
But about that dinner. I had promised myself many pleasant calls and greetings today despite 
the mud; but some litigants wished me to try their dispute this morning, and like a clever fellow, 
that I am, I consented. Well, in-

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-stead of one, they kept me six hours; I lost an appointment I had made to dine with some 
gentleman at 3. -- besides losing the pleasure of making the calls I had planned. But at home -- 
that is, our boarding house, our landlady had promised us a dinner at 4, and off I hurried, with a 
single friend, to meet the hour. The hour came -- and the dinner -- and the [?], & Beefsteak, boiled 
ham, chicken, lobsters, sardines, green peas, sweet & Irish potatoes, all the other vegetables, -- 
preserved peaches, tomatoes & apples green current pies, cake, honey, fresh butter, cheese, etc, 
etc constituted the array, and we battled it manfully, -- until at last we yielded -- despairing of carrying 
the whole works, though we certainly demolished a great many of them.

Therefore let the loud winds whistle -- and the rude tempests roar!

Well, well! this is nonsense enough for one letter. You will surely destroy it, or keep it very safe.

You have not given me a very full account of your transactions lately, -- and I almost begin to feel as 
though I was growing to be a stranger to your concerns and operations. Now as you have often wished 
me to be specific in my accounts of myself, I shall return the compliment by requiring you to do the 
same. Do you suppose that I have forgotten, or ceased to take an interest in the 

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brothers with whom I have spent so many happy formative years. Rest assured that any thing that you 
can tell me about your prospects and your successes will be full of interest. Nor can you claim 
exemption from this duty upon the ground that you have become a married man. I do not of course 
claim the first place in your affections for I doubt not, truly another has held that citadel for a long, 
long time, but I do claim that I have a right to your confidence and, so often as you can afford the time 
and labor, to your correspondence.

Now, -- apropos of married men -- by the last mail, Rens. sent me the official news of his having become 
a happy husband. I can only congratulate him sincerely and wish that his doubled state may only continue 
as happy as it has commenced -- for I can scarcely imagine a greater amount of felicity than appears to 
be his lot - judging from the tone of his letters.

These things have caused me some new reflections -- but ladies, especially of the right kind, are so few 
here, that it is almost a bootless task to attempt to find & win one that would fill "J.K. Marvel's" description 
of a "good wife".

But it is late. All the compliments of the season to my sister Susan & to yourself. With a sincere adios. 

Your bro Elisha.