RK-805

Ft Youkon, Youkon Riv. N.W. Am. May 12th 1861.

My Dear Small Girls,

I have on nearly every saturday night this past winter thought to begin my letters home but, as usual, have procrastinated till a late date.

June 23.

The letters came nearly three weeks since bringing me lots of pleasant news and making me "think very very long" for Home. My letter from Mr Russ, Clarke at Ft Rae, McKinzie now at Slave Lake, Hardisty now at Liard and McFarlane who is by this time at the Anderson all advise me that these are doing well in Zoology and Lockhart and I have been getting the rarest of rare eggs literally by the bushel;- We have over a bushel of eggs of canvas back, widgeon, scaup, & and pintail ducks, canada geese and other rare birds eggs! So I think I can now afford to leave the collecting in the hands of these gentlemen after a summer on the Anderson where I must go despite of any and every obsticle - if any such exists beyond my desire to get Home

Hurrah! for the Youkon still! (but d-n to all intents & purposes the musquitoes) Hurrah for La Pierres House and rare fishes & mamals this fall Hurrah for the Anderson barren grounds and arctic sea

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sea coast next summer and Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!!!! for Home in the fall of 1862.

I now write to Mr Mactavish asking him to send me a voyaging allowance to be sent in parts to Ft Simpsons, Athabasca, and Isle a la Crosse. - That I need not carry a pound more than necessary in my canoe - I shall leave the Anderson the last of July go to Simpson and thence to Slave Lake in the usual boats, At Slave Lake (Resolution) Ill take a canoe and two Indians, or white voyageurs if I can get them, and "carry on" as hard as possible for Red River which point I hope to reach by open water in November. Should I be stopped by Ice I will shoulder my gun and blanket, make my men carry my share of provisions and "tap" a' prid [illegible] as soon as the ice sets fast, without waiting for snow. For tho' 'twould be much easier to walk on snow shoes with dogs to haul our provisions I do not wish to wait a month or so as we might have to do. And I am determined to be at home before christmas or break something in the attempt!

I cannot begin to tell you how gloriously happy Ive been for the last three weeks - ever since Ive determined to 'tap' for home next year. Before

Small girls 3.

Before I heard by these letters how well the gentlemen at the various posts were "pitching into" the zoology I had considered my presence a fourth year in the district a matter of duty on my part, and I philosophically refused to take any other view of things than a stay of four winters - But now for the reasons given it is otherwise, and I could permit myself to think as much as I liked of my comparatively early arrival at home.

Your minute descriptions of home life, aided by my memory, call before me most vividly the happy events and scenes which engage your attention. Perhaps I picture these as more happy than you find them; but I ignore any objectionable features in the scene even if I have cause to suspect any exist. I think ours is after all a very happy family circle, and, I wot, 'twill be hard to induce me ever again to stay away from it one fourth of the time I now have. - I think I love you all and the good old Home better every year I am gone; and I remember the minutest features in the house & household arrangements; each row of trees almost in the nursery and many of the trees them selves as distinctly as if I saw them but yesterday. You

- You tell me comparatively few changes and few new friends, and these few I've learned to incorporate with the whole Home & its relations as I left it so that all seem familier to me. Knowing my susceptibility as well as you do it is almost super fluous in me to say that I am in love with - - How could it be otherwise after your description of her amiability, cleverness, etc and when gratitude and common gallantry demand it. You may read my enclosed letter to her, in which I say only the truth. I maintain that but for my sentimental memories of Home I should have become a perfect savage, leading as I do this solitary & monotonous life for at least three fourths of the year. And I would now especially cultivate sentimentality to save my soul from utter atrophy & stagnation. Therefore the very flattering attentions paid my representitive at home, - by giving me a new theme object for sentimental feelings really claim my gratitude.

Mark you this, - true honest sentimentality cannot be hurtful or ridiculous in its proper sphere - It is only that which is false and affected which is despicable, and our fear of this too often leads us to avoid the indulgence of good feelings.

On all hands I hear of marriage & giving in

marriage. When I get home I think there will be hardly any of my [letter crossed out] nondom aqu acquaintences left unf unmarried - (A notable exception Pocahontas writes me, - ( & a very pleasant sisterly letter too, ) among other items that she is not to be married and never expects to be - Is teaching school. - And apropos the megatheria remain stanch bachelors - Ulke's & ostensacken[?] too) in the west at least. - What can I do? I must go to work and get rich and marry - or take refuge in the Pains[?] of the megatherium.

I have heard with very much pleasure indeed of Charlie's & Delia's marriage. It was long enough for them to wait at their age. and I predict happy results to both from their risking matrimoney despite the meagre state of his purse - But mind you oldest small Girl, You and your Future are many years younger - and more in age than in years. Pany is about my age. I am about 20, - tho' I was born, they tell me, over 25 years since - I think 23 to 25 a very good age to marry at. Though very likely I may not marry till Im near 30, - if I ever can at all. Never mind I'll have a chance to be a jolly good old bachelor brother and uncle.

I have written short notes to charlie, Pany, & woodworth, they (C. & D) will of course read my letters to you - and John