280 REVEREND EZRA FISHER
embrace the first favorable opportunity of leaving the mines and reaching home in safety. I am heartily tired of the mines. I sometimes think they may be truly called the gam- bler's and drunkard's heaven and the Christian's banishment. How long I should be willing to remain in this imprison- ment for the benefit of myself and family I know not. One day I look towards the place of all my domestic attractions and Christian relations and long for a release. I then think I will not be a fool and entrust the education and support of a rising family to the charity of the Christian public, or to the slow and hard earnings of my hands at home, while six, eight, ten and sometimes twenty and even more dollars can be made here per day clear of expense at a season when society is literally broken up in Oregon, and California too. As far as my friends advise here, they recommend me to stay two or three months at least, and then they say they will go with me. I expected to do no great things in mining when I gave you the parting hand. I have not been disappointed. Yet to all human appearances I have done better than I should have done to have remained in Oregon. The weath- er for the last week has been very warm, the thermometer rising in the shade during the heat of the day to 106 degrees and in the sun to 119 degrees, but yesterday and today it is quite comfortable. We lay by about three hours in the heat of each day. If you can live comfortably till I return, I would rather Lucy Jane would study than teach, yet I would have you consult the good of the neighbors' children as well as that of our own. I hope Timothy will improve some in arithmetic and grammar, if he can, after doing the necessary work for the family. Should you need flour or anything else., I think you can get it on a short credit and I will cheerfully pay it on my return. Keep Ann Eliza and Sarah Josephine at their books part of each day if you can. Kiss little Francis Wayland Howard for me. I want to see you all very much. May God bless us all with life and health and prepare us for a happy and prosperous meeting.
