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Thompson Falls MO [Montana]

June 19th 187?

 Dear Isabel,

I write you a few lines in answer to yours of seven days ago and this being the first chance I have had to get a letter to the office I have had since I received your letter although I was here a week ago but did not have time to write as I was in a hurry to get on .We are still out from Thompson Falls fifteen miles prospecting land but have had bad luck that is we have not struck  gold enough to pay in any quantities but are not done trying but don't know when we will give it up but not soon I have found another Lege

 of one I wrote to you about finding one sometime ago and was going to have an assay of it it only went $16.00 to the ton but I think it will get better as we go down on it and that is our business here today to get fuse and powder and tools to work the lege with the other one I found. I don't know now what it will go but I think it better than the other one. We went to bed rock in our placer mines but did not find gold enough to pay so gave it up but we are going down on our lege and will work a week or so and then I am going on a trip in the mountains with a man who has got horses and will furnish me to go with him and we will be gone for two months or more but you can still direct  to Thompson. Hope you are all well can't say when I will be at home    may not come this winter but will if I

make money enough to get home on and back here in the Spring for I think I will make something here yet for the country is covered with minerals of all kinds. Tell Robert to be on his guard for he is in danger of being killed at any time I have only killed one deer

since I have been here, but have not had time to hunt. I saw an awful large bear track in the sand between here and camp this morning but I have not seen one since I have been here. I got a letter from the boys and will answering them as soon as I get a little time hope they are getting out of the grass and they will have an easier time I don't intend for them to make another crop in that county if I can help it. Write soon and often and don't wait for me to write for it may be some time before I am where I can write as ever

 F H McLemore

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