Letter from Ambrose Bierce to Henry Lee, March 27, 1876

San Francisco, Cal'a

March 27th, 1876.

My Dear Lee -

I am astonished to remember that I have been some six months away from London and you. Why I have not written you I really do not know. My life since coming home has been a series of distractions - a sort of whirlwind. That's how it goes here; a fel-

low cant realise how the time is passing until he finds himself disrobing for the grave at a green old age succeeding a lunatic manhood.

I need not tell you how pleasantly I remember you and how I would go a long journey with my shoes full of split peas and cuneiform inscriptions to see you. You know these things. By the way, Mrs Bierce wished you to remember her kindly. She has had the goodness to present me with a girl - born within a week or two of my arrival; that was the business that fetched me away from dear old England. The other babbies -- but maybe you would prefer to hear about the spawn of salmon, or the roe of the nautilus. I wish I had much to tell you, but, bless you, you dont know anybody here. You can, however, tell me interesting things by the yard, and I hope you will -- all about the Aqua-

rium, the Whitefriar's Club - bless 'em! - and everything. I pine to know these things - tell me them. How is Mortimer - and his "pretty dear" - and the little Madame? Do you know I have not yet written him! Have written only two letters since I left London. Must write Morty, of course. Tell all the fellows I like (Sawyer, Wilson - O Lord, how long that list would be if I should go on!) that I have 'em in sweet memory. And you - see thou write me a letter about them.

Ever yours,

A. G. Bierce.

I have quite gone out of newspaperdom. Here is my address:

"Bohemian Club, 631 Sacramento St., San Francisco, California, U. S. A."

I have by no means forgotten your promise of a book by Henry Lee. I know it will be a good 'un. God bless you. Amen.