Dear father and mother
and sister⁵ I received the
leter that you wrote to
varnum⁶ last week and
was glad to hear from
you and the wrest of
the folks in glover⁷ was
sorey to hear that granser
was sick give my love to 
him and to alvas folks
and [unclear] all the wrest of
the folks I guess you got
a little mistaken about me
going to californa⁸ one dear son
has gone I had a leter
from varnum lst week
from the isthmus he was
well and in good spirits
and sent his best wishes
to you all thare was eight
went from here with him

  ^{1This letter is part of the Abbott Brothers Collection at Philadelphia College in Pennsylvania.  Transcribed by the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Center for Lowell History.
  2Jonas Abbott b: 1836, Glover, VT; parents: Margaret H. King and Jonas Varnum Abbott; stepfather: Cephas Clark; employed 1852-1854: Lowell, Massachusetts.
  3Parents - Margaret and Cephas Clark, Glover, VT.
  4Lowell, Massachusetts.
  5Sister – Dorothy “Dolly” M. Abbott b: 1841, Glover, VT; parents: Margaret H. King and Jonas Varnum Abbott; stepfather: Cephas Clark.
  6Brother – Varnum Abbott b: 1834, VT; parents: Margaret H. King and Jonas Varnum Abbott; stepfather: Cephas Clark; employed 1852-1854: Lowell, Massachusetts.
  7Glover, Vermont.
  8California Gold Rush.}
  
  
  
  
he found 7 from lyndon
VT on the same boat
with him he said that
they was some see sick
and he said that he
was sum sea sick to or
three days I wished that
I had gone with him
but he had some good
fellows with him and
steady he boarded with
one fellow most one year
that they went with him
I expect to have a leter
from him in a week or
a fortnight when I do
get one I will send it 
to you there want much
in the one that he sent
from the isthmus duston
and ayers want with 
him I think he will do
well I hope so I think that
I shall stop in lowell
for the present my health
iIs not very good I have
had the whooping cough this 
winter my stomac got
sore coughing but it is
some beter now I have
worked most all the 
time to think I shall
  
  
  
    
my pay rise soon I
get 58 cents per day now
and pay $2.25 per week
for my bord that don’t
leave me a great pile but
I am learning a good trade
I let varnum have all
the money that I could
spare to him I will
send you $5.00 dollars
now and the wrest by and
by, when you want it
it is cold weath here
now and I must go
to bead for I cant
think of much to write
this time only mary I
health is good and sends
hur best wishes to dolly
and you both so good
by for this time

this from Jonas Abbott
           to Mr Clark