IN THE MINING DISTRICT 255 



by the hand here in this country, startled me like an elec- 

 tric shock. Yes, let him come and try his luck, and let 

 him steel his body and energy as I have done. It is true, 

 1 have heard California cursed by immigrants thousands 

 of times; I have seen men— old women I ought to say— 

 shed tears, because they had exchanged their comfortable 

 homes elsewhere for a mining claim in California; I have 

 seen men land here from one steamer, and start back for 

 home again on the very next boat (literally true!); and 

 I would never advise anyone to come here; but 

 is so much like myself that 1 will say out of the depth of 

 my heart: "let him come, if he has a desire to see the 

 world." He will find in me the same friend I used to 

 be, and as long as I have a crust of bread and a blanket, 

 he shall not go hungry or cold. 



And now I come to you, my little gossip, my dear 

 Marie. A pity that died so young; he was a 



gifted painter and would have accomplished much. That 

 my place at the christening at Podlechen was kept open, 

 I will believe. I know how kindly you all feel towards 

 me; another reason probably was, that Carl has named 

 his firstborn after me. When Lucinde will have pre- 

 sented him with eleven more, let him come here, he can 

 then start a farm and have a little kingdom of his own. 

 — And so grandpa has now two Franks among his de- 

 scendants; one a big good-for-nothing fellow, who roams 

 at large; and a little one, who if everything goes satis- 

 factorily, may also become a good-for-nothing; but who, 

 I hope, will not turn out any worse, than I am. 



For the present: Good night! 



San Francisco, Cal., October 27th, 1852. 

 You will undoubtedly be surprised to hear that I am 

 in San Francisco; but it came about in a very simple way. 

 When I found that my health would not improve in any 

 way, I made up my mind to take a trip to this city. It 

 is now about two weeks that I have been here; but 

 though immediately after my arrival I placed myself in 

 the hands of a. German physician (Dr. Wedekind) who 



