Aromas Calif,  Feb 27, 1898
 
Mr. David Furgenson        Kind Friend and Famley, I Seat myself to pen you a few lines in answer to your letter whitch I recived a long time ago but just put off Wrighting.  So you must Excuse me for not writing.
 
Well David times is pretty fair in hear.  if a man wants work he can get it but wages is not vary large, about 1.25 to 1.75 per day and grub is not vary high.  Flour 2.30 per hundred, potatoes 50 cents per hundred lbs.  Fruit is plenty and Cheep, the Dryed fruit and apples I mean, and a good prospect for a large crop of all grain and fruit.
 
We have had just about Rain enuff to make a good show for ever thing.  this is a great place for Strawberies.  large fields of them and they is Ripe.  Barries for nine month in the year.  We had Ripe Strawbarries for Christmas dinner and they will soon be ripe again.
 
Large fields of hops and it takes lots of people to pick them.  men, woman and children pick hops.  95 cents per hundred for picking.  grass is all up.  Cane out and Horses making ther living.  garden all coming up.  potatoes planted.  Fruit Trees in Bloom.
 
Well david I wrote to Mr Lilly (Tilly?) about my place but he never answered it.  gues he is mad about Tom trading it to me. I would like to hear from somone that lives by my place so as to tell me what shape it is in and see if what land that is Cleared is in Eney Kind of Shape to tend.  I suppose the House is all tore down and took away.  if you could see some one that lives down thear and ask them about it or give me some ones name that lives there I would Wright them.  the land is good and if someone could put it in to crop it would pay them.
 
Well how is all the old Neighbors getting along.  has there bin lots of changes and improvements since we left there. is the Country pretty well set out to fruit and has there bin lots of land cleared up.  is Wm Green out on the Creek yet and Steenson, J O wilkson.  has Willow Spr growed Eney.  is Joe Rickey live out there yet.
 
tell me all you can about the Country and all the News and do not wait so long to answer as I have done and I will do better next time.  So I will close for this time.  hoping to hear from you soon.
 
Yours as Ever,  C. H. Thome

 
Aromas, Montery Co, Calif  Dec 20 1898
 
Mr. David Furgenson
 
Friend, I seat myself this rainey day to pen you a few lines to let you know that we are well as common and hope that when this comes to hand will find you all well.
 
Well David, California has had 2 dry years and times is hard hear but the rain has started to come again so mabey this year will be better for people hear but the worst thing hear is Forgen Labor sutch as Chineman, Japanees and Spanards.  Eney of that Class will work for nothing and board themselves.  So White people cannot get eney more.
 
Well David how is ever thing down there by this time.  How does ever boddy get along.  Is that country getting along. Is it improving very fast.  has there bin a good meny New Commers come in and has there bin a good deal of land sold there and how does the orchards do.  has there bin lots of fruit set out there.  How is the Winter there this Winter.  was there a good crop last Summer.
 
How is Prides folks getting a long.  Do they live out on there place yet.  have they set out Fruit on there place.  is Mr Donner on his place yet.  is William Brown on his place yet.
 
Has Willow Spring builted up mutch.  do they talk of that New Rail Road from St Louis to Ft Smith Arkansas eney more.
 
Well David I will close for this time.  hoppng to hear from you soon and tell us all the news you can think of.  tell us all about the people and country (so) we can see how ever thing is getting along.
 
So good by.
Respects to all your Famley and all the Neighbors.
Your Truley,  Charles Thome

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