on Tues. night and on Wed.
morning we left at 8 o'clock for New York where we now are. This
place I have often heard of, but never that it was such tell. It
beats all I ever witnessed. The streets are so full of wagons,
carts, Drays, carriages, omnibusses
that it is a very difficult matter to pass from one street to
another, also the walks are so full of people that you can
scarcely get along. And here I have been in Barnums
Museum, Burtons Theatre, in Broadway Theatre & in Crystis
Minstrels.
We used to pay 25 cents to see a circus but they
are only a nuicence to a theatre. How ignorant a great many
people live and die with out knowing how things are going a few
miles from home. I have been across the Hudson River and the place
called Hoboken and away out in the country. I have been very much
delighted with
the portion of the world I have seen. Lewis & me have had our
fortunes told by the great celebrated astrologer, and things that
we have realized have been true. I believe that this woman knows
something about it for she told us that we had come a journey
& that we are going to go a journey. She told me of 2 or 3
persons that appears to be very interested in my welfare, that is
men, and I think I know some of them. She told Lewis that he
would be sick in a few days, and I suppose that will be where we
get on board the Great Ohio on tomorrow
at 2 o'clock. She will strike her colours. She bears a burstrue
of 200 tons & she runs in connection with the Golden Gate. A
little more about the fortune teller. She told me my prospects
were bright where I am going. She told me I would never be
immensely rich, but that I would have enough to keep me
comfortable my life time. She told me I would get money, by the
way she tells me, it must be from some of my uncles & she
told me I was going to marry a Lady pretty stout with blue eyes
ha, ha, ha, and I would get money with her & a great mang
other things were favorable. I don't feel a bit homesick, I don't
think a bit about coming home. They said I would go so far that I
could not hear the dinner pot, then I would come back, but it is
not so. I think of my good old Mammy who was very good to me.
Since I have left home, I have bought myself a Gum Sack for
$3.00, a Gum coat for #5.00 a revolving pistol for $17.00, a dirk
knife for one dollar, a belt for $1.00 & a vest for $1.50
& a first rate one at that, and we have a great deal of
information about Calif. I met a gentleman that told me I could
get twice as much for my pistol as I paid, for it is an extra
kind. We were over at Kobuck trying there and I hit the paper at
17 yds. with it. A gentleman told me that a man cannot help but
make money in Calif. if he was industrious and saving. Another
gentleman told Lewis that he was in Calif. but he had a wife here
and she would write to him to come home & he said for that
reason he could not make money but that there was money to be
made. Yes & the old fortune teller told me that I was to have
six children & that I would not pass away in early life &
that I would be honorable & she told Lewis that he would have
two wives O, show he don't want me to tell about matrimonial
affairs. Well I guess I must finish my letter for I have got
pretty near the end of the sheet. Only wishing luck to the boys
that backed out from going along. No more at present but I remain
Your big Joe
Don't show this letter to any but family but you can tell others something about it.