to Sidney Colvin

608 Bush Street, San Francisco, [March 1880].

MY DEAR COLVIN,—My landlord and landlady’s little four-year-old child is dying in the house; and O, what he has suffered.  It has really affected my health.  O never, never any family for me!  I am cured of that.

I have taken a long holiday—have not worked for three days, and will not for a week; for I was really weary.  Excuse this scratch; for the child weighs on me, dear Colvin.  I did all I could to help; but all seems little, to the point of crime, when one of these poor innocents lies in such misery.—Ever yours,

R. L. S.