William R. Olden

San Francisco Nov [November] 15 1852

My Dear Sister

Your Letter came to hand by the last Mail along with Sara's & I am delighted to see nicely the little ones have got along together. You who know me can readily imagine the pleasure that I would enjoy if I could only see them at their Gambols in the old yard where is Cousin Magy Paxsons [Paxon's] School is it down at Bridgewater where we used to go. how strange it would seem to see our little representatives daily pursuing the same old path that we used to traverse of yore. I do not feel at all uneasy at the children being a little backward in their studies for I do not believe that there is anything gained by over teaching young children.

I mentioned in my last letter to Sara that I had a prospect of getting Agency of the Comanche at Marysville. Any one but Myself now would consider it now certain, if I get it I am a made man because I can make enough to establish myself in a permanent maner [manner].

I thank you for your generous intentions with regard

to the education of the children but I if all things go right there will be no necessity for taxing the generosity of my friends in future one of My friend William Scully of the J. J. Southgate & C [company] leaves tomorrow in the Golden Gate for Pittsburgh he intends to return.

Scince [Since] the last Mail we have had more extensive conflagrations than ever occurred at one time in this country you will see the full particulars in the papers.

I have got a crow to pick with you about no 3 - I want to know why it was not deemed nesessary [necessary] to inform me that such an individual was in existence its name age & &c. [et cetera]. Sara speaks of your five children but I have only 4 on my list the other is an entire Stranger - !!

I have written about all the news in my letter to Sara. And I must refer you to her. Give my best love to my best of Aunts & Murray Susan & the Juveniles particularly no' 5.!!!

Your Affectionate Brother

William R. Olden

Marysville March 11/52 [1852]

My Dear Sister

From some cause that I cannot understand although I have been at this place 3 months my letters Still come directed to San Francisco, the consequence is that I don't get my letters things until after I have written. I have therefore to go it blind & trust that your here to fore good fortune still continues.

Going into on of the Express Offices today to my utter Surprise & delight I saw a Bucks County Intelligencer. There was Something in the old name that excited very pleasurable feelings. I can asure [assure] you it brought old times back to my recollection. So many names & places that I recollect & so well it belonged to a little Dutchman from the upper end. I found upon questioning him that he knew, our friends in Doyles town & could give me quite a good deal of information about things that had occurred Since I left that part of the world. There was a report of a meeting

of the (Newportville, Pennsylvania horse company for the detection of horse thieves and other vilians [villains])!! Our old Friend William Elmslie Secty [Secretary] just as it used to be. The Sec was not obliged to ride & as the latter that was not one of his accomplishments he has been continued in the only capacity in which the could act, I can imagine him on horse back as I used to Know him & I do not Suppose that his "Shadow has grown less" he was a mighty good hearted fellow & it would give me great pleasure to See him once more. I always thought it unfortunate that Such a gentlemanly disposition as he had Should be enclosed in Such an unfortunate carcase [carcass] girls who liked him very much, feared the ridicule his apperance [appearance] excited too much ever to marry him.

I also See the names of all the old members of my own time. Murray has the important post of director. I forget whether I ever attained that dignified position or not

During the whole time that I have been absent, I have never had the desire

to return & pay you a visit, So Strong upon me I seems that a month or Six weeks could pass delightfully if Spent in in visiting the Scenes of my youth, in my mental visin [vision] every thing appears just as I left it, my power of recollecting places, is so great, that could I sketch, I could So it, so well that it would be immediately recognized. The old place is as plain before me as if I was actually in the yard. The house the old tree & all the others not even excepting the nearly dead pear tree by the Kitchen. All seem to be old friends, of mine & would doubtless wave their old boughs with delight at my return (poetical very) I cannot realise [realize] the alterations & improvements. The old garden fence is just as plain with its diagenal [diagonal] palings as if it Still existed, the family are all the same the children are the same size and none of you have grown any older in fact I Suppose Aunt Rachels better health has made her look much younger better than when I Saw her last. There is one thing peculiarity about her, certain that although children generally like