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Sacramento California
January 12th 1852
 
My Dear Brother Homer

I have just had the gratification of reading a very entertaining letter from you dated West Springfield Nov 12th 51 — just two months ago today. Every line of it was interesting, and some portions of [it] very deeply so. You said nothing in it about your having been sick, I but merely mentioned the circumstance of your being somewhat indisposed. A letter from Rens however, explained fully the cause of your being at home.

I am somewhat surprised at the natural tone of cheerfulness which pervades your letter, when I think of the depressing and almost disheartening disappointments which have fallen upon you in such rapid succession. When I look back upon the year that has passed, which to me seemed to open to your vision the brightest and sunniest prospects, -- and see how one after another your hopes have been blasted, how cloud after cloud has gathered its blackness & gloom over you, I cannot avoid expressing my deepest and sincerest sympathy with you in your adversity. This I know cannot remove or lighten your burden; but it is sometimes a source of relief -- momentary at least -- to know that others, our friends, feel with us our afflictions and anxiously watch for their termination. I regret scarcely anything more than that I am powerless to act as my strongest desires and emotions would prompt. Heaven knows that were it at my disposal, not another steamer should leave this port without bearing to you, who have always proved yourself a kind & most generous brother, all that should be necessary to extricate you from your present situation, and permit 



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you to breathe again freely and joyously. Do not think me affecting a generosity; for it is after all selfishness that would prompt me. I know of no pleasure that the wealth of Croesus could give more exquisite than that of relieving the inconveniences of those in whom I am deeply interested and turning their gloom into happy sunlight. Oh! had I this power, I should consider that I have received a blessing pregnant with more rapture, than any act of mine could possibly confer upon another. And for this reason I ardently wish that I were wealthy, -- that I had been born rich -- or had been so constantly smiled upon by Fortune, as now to be so.

But these are wishes of mine that may not, I fear, be immediately realized; and it is best, probably, to look at your circumstances in the most practical light. You say you will try farming again a while. If you will only be able to enter upon that avocation without permitting your zeal to overthrow your health, no doubt it will be as profitable to you as teaching - and probably as pleasant. To me it would be more pleasant for I did not like teaching overmuch; but you have such a decided genius & taste for it, that you undoubtedly experience much delight in it. If you do go to farming, I would suppose you could do better on the old place than on the new one owned by yourself and Susan. Remember, the toils and delays of opening a new farm are not trifling; and although you know more about it than I do, I see no advantage you can have at Providence over West Springfield, except being in a neighborhood more densely settled, and containing excellent society, and having the pleasure of seeing Susan's friends more frequently.



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Father & Mother I know would rejoice to have you settle there; Mother has long wished it and Father writes in his letter accompanying yours, "it is what I have desired, a long time". Very little or no expense will be required before you can enter at once upon your labors. You will at once feel settled, and without making allowance for the risks attending upon the results of a new farm, can very safely and reasonably calculate upon a dividend at the close of the very first year. But being so far off from the scene of your calculating, I cannot claim that I am the soundest advisor. Perhaps some other opening may have disclosed itself by this time.

But whatever you do, try and preserve your health. Do not think that your constitution is the strongest in the world and will bear everything. Wait till it becomes a little more hardened before you demand of it the greatest exhibitions of its powers of endurance. And do [manuscript torn] in too great a hurry to get ahead of all the difficulties in your way. A little patience will be of more avail many times than the most violent and tremendous exertions. Do not think, either, because now the Future is overcast and gloomy, that it will always be so. Change and mutability are stamped on all things. Therefore it can't always be thus. There never was so black & fearful a cloud but that the sun was always shining just as bright and glorious behind it as ever -- waiting only for the cloud slowly to withdraw to flood the world with light & fill every heart with joy. And so will it undoubtedly be in your case. Only have patience and a strong heart -- kick imaginary evils & importuning creditors, together, into oblivion -- and in good time, in all good time, with Heaven's blessing and the smiles of a loving wife to cheer you may your lot become -- as it deserves to be -- the happiest of the happy. 



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I have no news to communicate this time that will interest you much. I have dissolved my connection with Mr. McConaha and he is now in the "Legislative Halls" at Vallejo, doing what he may to manufacture laws for our State. The laws of last winter which repealed all those of the preceding winter have just been printed. These in their turn will now probably be repealed by others which again will be printed in time to be repealed by the Laws of next winter. So we go. The best lawyers in the State don't know what the law is of many important subjects. The Legislature is a glorious institution; it is now in Session at the Capital Vallejo, discussing the propriety of leaving their work and coming up here to attend a Complimentary Ball to be given by the politicians to induce them to hold their session here this winter. The interests of the people are the last things thought of by our glorious officials.

The weather for two weeks has been very unpleasant. First, a tremendous flood of rain -- then violent & disagreeable winds -- then dense and drizzling fogs. Today, for the first time this month, the breezes have rolled away the clouds and the sun has shown forth in spring-like beauty. On the whole I think this a most delightful climate. My Love to all. Write me soon & often. Your aff. brother
Elisha

[P.S.] Jany 14th. The mail goes at two. My health is most excellent -- the weather fine –
 business brisk. News came up on the steamer this morning that the Legislature has adjourned to meet here on the 16th and have their sessions here this winter. So this is now the Capital. I [ms obscured] of this news has come up on the [ms obscured]   Hurrah for Sacramento!!!
Adios. E.C.W.