Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 3 (1876 - 1882)

Lt 19, 1881

White, W. C.

Healdsburg, California

December 7, 1881

Previously unpublished.

Dear Willie:

I have received a letter from Brother Rice that the letter I wrote his father had a decided effect upon him. He is changed and he is urgent I come to Freshwater as soon as I can make it conveniently. I have decided to go next week. I shall leave Healdsburg tomorrow. Brother [Fred] Harmon and [his] wife will go also with us to St. Helena, leave horse and carriage there and go to Woodland, and from Woodland to Arbuckle, from Arbuckle to Freshwater. He wants me to speak at Freshwater and Lakeport. His father has expressed anxiety for me to come. 3LtMs, Lt 19, 1881, par. 1

Brother Healey is going to Los Angeles in about three weeks and wants me to go with him and his wife, but I do not know what to do. The fare is high by cars—twenty-three dollars. I cannot go without some attendant. Perhaps I had better not go while so liable to ill turns. 3LtMs, Lt 19, 1881, par. 2

It is a foggy morning. My throat and lungs are congested. I dare not go anywhere without some good help with me. 3LtMs, Lt 19, 1881, par. 3

There is considerable pinching just now in several matters. Our Healdsburg place should be cultivated—trees planted and generally fixed up. Property, if it can be purchased cheap, should be made sure of, for rents here—even of small houses—are high, while the same places are to be sold cheap. 3LtMs, Lt 19, 1881, par. 4

Brother Harmon and I took our black Prince and rode round some yesterday. We inquired the price of property. Found nothing as nice as our place. Found one little house just fit for firewood two miles from town, built in the mud—twelve acres of bottom land—three thousand dollars. Another house has ten acres of bottom land, sixty acres of uphill grazing land; house [is] on stilts without foundation, poor, cheap concern, for four thousand five hundred dollars. Our place in comparison with these would be cheap at five thousand. If I can sell it at four thousand, will do so. 3LtMs, Lt 19, 1881, par. 5

Brother Young goes to Los Angeles in three weeks with his family. He has a small place there. His wife is feeble and he is wanting to get out of the real estate agency in company with an unbeliever. He has scruples of conscience in regard to this matter. I may sell Healdsburg property. There is one looking at it. 3LtMs, Lt 19, 1881, par. 6

Mother.

I go to St. Helena tomorrow. Brother and Sister Harmon go to pilot us. 3LtMs, Lt 19, 1881, par. 7