Still direct to Shasta City. I have no pretty specimen but I will get one the next.
Write soon, if they do cost two Dollars and fifty cents they are always welcome. And all I send out cost fifty cts.
Tice did not make his "pile," and his hope of anything like an immediate return went glimmering. January, 1853, found him in Portland. He was having his difficulties in getting adjusted to conditions in the new country, as were "Old Man" Lawson, "Uncle" Joe White, and others.
Portland, Oregon Ter., Jan. 18/53
Dear Father and Mother,
I suppose you will be surprised to hear of me here. This has been a very hard winter in the mines. It commenced snowing about the first of December in the mines and Raining in Oregon the first of November, so it made the roads impossible for pack trains to travel and the consequences was they were out of provisions in the mines and will be for two months to come. We came down to get provisions and got caught in the storm and can't get out now but I think we will start back in about three weeks. ...
I wrote last fall I thought I would be home in the spring, but I will have to try it a little longer. There is no use of me going back to Old Covington without some money for I would not stay there if I did. I came to this Country to make money and I am going to have some. ... Andy and I are working partners. We are going to put all our money in mules and one of us go to packing this summer.
Now for the Covington folks I have seen since I have come down. First, Mrs. Johnson. I am at her house writing. She has a Milliner shop here. She is very well satisfied. Lucett Redding was married a few weeks ago to a Mr. Dergen (?) a very fine man....
I saw old Mr. Lawson last Sunday in Oregon City on his way up to George. He lives on a Claim on Yamhill river. He looked very well. He has been selling goods here but is moving his stock up to where George is. Avery Babcock is living near them on a farm. ... George Lawson and the Old Man bought their Claim. They gave one thousand dollars for it for
