Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/44

 be rich this will be one of the greatest cities in California. If they turn out rich I think we will sink one. ...

As soon as I get a few hundred dollars ahead, I will send you some money to school the Children. ...

Direct to Shasta City, Cal.

Your Son

John R. Tice

The next letter brings to our attention the high postage rates then prevailing, as well as the fact that the receiver, not the sender, was responsible for the cost of transmittal. Postage stamps had not as yet come into use. The Tice letters were not enclosed in envelopes, but were neatly folded with the blank side outward. Each letter was sealed with wax and across the front was usually written, "Jacob Tice, Esq., Covington, Fountain Co., Indiana."

Tuesday, May 11th, 1852. [Weaverville, California]

This has been a lucky day for me. I have reecived three letters, two from you dated Dec. 14th and Jan. 25th and one from Charley Holman. Although they cost me two dollars each, that is nothing for a letter from you when I have had none for so long. ... Don't let the dollars keep you from writing for the next will only cost me fifty cts. ...

Home, how sweet the word but God only knows when I will be there, but I hope some day may bring me back to see you all again. We have opened a Claim this week. I think it will pay us a ½ ounce a day for some little time. There have been rich diggings struck in town this week and the whole town is laid off in claims—streets and houses. If they prove rich the whole town will be dug up. I should think Covington was very dull at present all the men and boys leaving for California.

Your Son

John R. Tice

Tice was beginning to feel the pangs of home-sickness. He worked industriously, however, and, from time to time, wrote rather explicitly of his experiences.