Shep's Place Family Tree

Los Angeles,
California.
Thurs. March 29th.1888.

I am lodging at 323 South Spring Street.

Dear Brother,

I received your letter of the 19th. and was very sorry to hear that Mother was sick but I hope she is better now. I did not receive your letter until the 29th. of March. In your letter you ask me to let you know about San Francisco. I was only in San Francisco 5 days but during that time I went around every place where I thought I might get a job but the only answer I got was that we are full and some of the mills that I went to were stopped altogether.

When I left San Francisco I wrote back to the lady who I had hired the furnished room off to send me all letters and she kindly did so. The place that I am in now is 482 miles from San Francisco. It is a very nice place but work is very hard to be got here but I got work in a lumber yard at $2 a day but it was not steady. I could only make three or four days a week but I have started today to work in a sheepskin factory, the same kind of a one at Waths in 57th. Street, New York.

Things are very dear here. I have to pay $1.50 a week for a furnished room with a young man in the room with me. But as luck would have it he is a very nice young man. You can tell mother to sell them things of mine unless you want them yourself as I would not want her to be bothered with them. In your letter you did not tell me if you got that $14.50 off Mr. Donovan. This is the place for oranges. I go out every Sunday morning and pick all I want. If I get along in the place where I am working I think I will stay here three years, that is, if mother gets along all right. When you write, address JAMES BURNS, Los Angeles Post Office, California.

‎(There was no ending to this effort.)‎

To Mrs. David Burns, 732 Melrose Avenue, Bronx Borough, New York City.

General Delivery,
Beaumont,
Texas.
June 6th.1904.

Dear Sister,

It is with great pleasure that I now sit down to write you these few lines to let you know that I am in good health, hoping this will find you all the same. You must excuse me for being so long in answering your letter but you see I was out of work and was uneasy but have now started to work again though not at the same place. I am glad to say that my hands have got better again but I cannot tell how soon they may get sore again as I am back at the same kind of work. You have no idea how hard it is to get work when you are out of it.

I am glad you received the piece of cloth all right. It will be very hard for me to write to you now because where I am working now I do not get off in the afternoon at 3 o'clock and go back at 5 in the evening like in the other place. At the night time I cannot see very well to write so you need not be in any hurry to answer this letter. I will now close hoping this will find you all in good health as it leaves me at present. Address as before. ‎(James did not sign off)‎.

General Delivery,
Beaumont,
Texas,
August 6th. 1904.

Dear Sister,

I received your kind and welcome letter yesterday and was glad to hear that you were all well, which finds me the same. Do not be in a hurry to answer this letter as I find it very hard to write because I have to get up early in the morning as I cannot see to write at night. I am glad the Taylors are in good health. Also that Armstrong has an increase in his family. I wish him luck. I am glad that my brother John is in good health and working. I am glad the operation was successful on Robbie's eyes and I hope you will have no more trouble with them. I will now close hoping this letter will find you all in good health. Address as before.