Here's a picture of the letter addressed to Miss Josie Welsh. 2414 Champa Street, Denver Colo.
The postmark says JASPER COLO, DEC 20, 1896. The date is faded and difficult to make out. On the back are clear postmarks of receipt in Denver on DEC 22, 1896.
Dec 12/20, 1896. Jasper, Colo
Dear Mother,
Your letter received in due time. We are about through here now. Pa thinks he can't come up. He wants to be here in the first of the month. I don't know whether to come or not. If I can get about 400 head of horses and cattle to him this summer I can make more than I can in Denver. Will get 9.00 a head for the summer and will get it all at once. Lee Thorn wanted me to go over to Silverton with him next spring. He said that I could easy get work and that nobody worked there for less than 3.00 a day and he got that all this summer. If I could get a good job there in Denver I would sooner be there than any place else. But 15 or 20 a month wont buy me clothes and a person likes to get some place once in a while. I may come up there and stay until March and if I don't get a good job I could go over to Silverton. There are a good many of the fellows over there that was in Monte Vista and they are all working and getting good wages. Maybe they can get me a good Place. I could rite to John Lake and ask him.
Page 2. This is the deadest place I ever saw and will try and get out of it as soon as possible. I see about as many in the country as in the town. No one on the street. And it makes me sick to look at this godforsaken place anymore. The boys got home from leadville Friday. When they got in the army hall they cheered and shot off the guns. They was pretty glad to get home. I will send you a box of rabbits and will try and get some ducks too and I will send it next week. I have been hunting but cant get no deer if it wont snow. The show is about all gone. So there will be no water for the farmers this summer if it don't snow pretty soon. You are all living pretty close together now. Well that is nice. You dont half to go so far to see one another. How is Freddie doing? tell him and Blanch I will bring or send them a big fat rabbit for Christmas. Give my regard to all.
Love to all, Charlie ----------------------------------------