Pratt, writes his sister with the news of what he has been doing in California:

Dear Sister,

... You say something about teaching school which I dont want you to do as I think that I can occasionally send funds to keep you along in school.

Two weeks ago I got packed up and all ready to take the steamer for home and would have been there in the middle of this month but I changed my mind and now I dont know when I will come. It is raining here now and has rained almost continually for the last month and there is a prospect of its continuing to rain for some time yet. The whole country is flooded and the loss of property in the Sacramento Valley is great. Sacramento city has been overflowed since the great fire which makes much suffering. The whole of the mountains are white with snow which are visible from Sacramento.

Since the rains have commenced the rods have been extremely bad so that communication with the mines has been difficult and the consequence is that provisions are very scarce and high there. Flour in some parts is north from 80 to 200$ pr barrel potatoes 50 c pr pound and all other things in proportion, but here in San Francisco I get good board and room for 12 pr week so that I am getting along very well and I dont never starve anyhow. ..."