81-09-02 Winters Yolo Co. Cal Sep 2 1881 from EE Norton to E Damrell
Dear Grand Ma          
I received your postal to day and hasten to answer.  we are only tolerable 
well.  We went on a visit to Shasty Co Cal to see Alice & family and Mr. 
Norton and the Children took the Chills while we were on our way home so they 
have not got rid of them yet.  Mr. Norten had the billious fever after we got 
home and has never got stout and yesterday had another chill.
it was the first sickness we have had in a long time.  it is very healthy 
generally over the Country except some chills along the creeks.  I so 
surprised to here that you never got my letter.  I answered vary soon after I 
got your letter and thought it so strange that you did not write, but this 
summer is a lone some one to me.  I supose you have have heard that Pa had 
gone to Texas. started the 27 of April last, went away and never let me know 
any thing about it.  it allmost killed me at first.  if he had died it would 
not hurt me any more.   he went to Mo to Uncle Franks was there two or three. 
he wrote to me the day he started from there and I never have had any more 
word from him.  I never can get over it.  he is so far away but hope he will 
do well he has always wanted to go there and I aposed it and so he sliped of 
from me.  I never exspect to see him unless I go to See him and that may be a 
long time. he lived 25 miles away from us when he went away. had left Winters. 
 Pa step daughter died last Nov with Typoid fever so they have no Children 
with them.  the boys are all here in Cal.  Gus health is tolerable good.  
crops were tolerable good this year through we had to  much rain last winter. 
 our crop was good.  have not sold it yet.  we had a bout 25 hundred bushels 
of grain.  We had have some adition built to our hous, had a wind mill put up 
this summer to pump water, now grand Ma I write this for all and for Mary & 
family.  I do not remember what I wrote before it was such a long letter.  I 
hope you will get this. Oh! how I would like to see all again.  I think some 
of my relative augt to make me a visit.  
I have three men to cook for besides my own family and no help.  the Children 
are a going to school and you know they cannot help me much.  Ida is taking 
musich lessons.  that keeps her busiy evenings and morning.  her Pa got her a 
nice piano $6.25 dollars(not sure about this figure) you must excuse this 
scraching for my hand trembles so I can hardly write.  I hope I will here from 
you soon and often I will do better if you will.   Just come over and Ida will 
give you time.  I expect we will live and die in Yolo Co and you will all way 
way no where to find us. from your true grand daughter & family   Eliza E. 
Norton