Dear Matilda,
Things have not been going so well. Hank gambled away our farm during a game of poker. We have to leave all our hard work's fruit to a greedy cattle rancher with more land than the eye can see. It's just not fair. I'm glad he didn't gamble away the cash we've saved.
I've been selling things like crazy. The two heifer calves, the sheep, the pig, my rocking chair, the curtains, one of Mother's silver locket. We need the money. I want to keep the animals, but our wagon will only hold so much. We're taking our two oxen, our cow, the chickens, and our dog, Hawthorne. The sofa will have to be sold; I can't stop crying over a stupid piece of furniture. It's only because I spent four years saving...
I shouldn't talk only of misery to you. Ruby is getting married, which is another reason we need money. I don't care for the boy; he's a dimwitted fellow, but I want her to be happy. She gets our nice chairs; the sofa cannot fit into her husband's wagon. They're moving to the Dakotas. I am not happy about losing my oldest daughter, but Vera is here.
Hank seems too glad about moving. I'm starting to think he lost the card game on purpose. He thinks Santa Fe will be the best place to go; God knows. I'm not sure we can make it that far, but he is my husband.
The wedding will be in a month; we've been sewing Ruby's dowry like crazy. She gets the goats, since they can produce milk. I wonder if she will miss us, but I am being selfish. Vera wants to live with her sister, but I can't relinquish both children. Not fair, not fair at all.
I must sound like a whiny brat. Well, I feel like one. Do you know what would help me? You. I think you should move west. We can meet up at Santa Fe. I know New York hasn't been kind to you and Gerald. You got kids; do you want them to be bullied by that city? Come live with us; we can send you money for everything.
Money lies on the ground- literally. You take a plow and start farming. Crops practically pop out of the dirt! You can get rich through hard work. There' more than just farming: mining, splitting rails, ranching, trading. We could go into business together! Please, dear sister, consider it. The west is beautiful. The whole sky can be seen. Think of majestic sunsets! Endless seas of grain! There's stores selling luxury goods like the ones sold in New York. Matilda, please consider this. I do miss you so. We've not met face to face since my wedding eighteen years ago.
I hope you and the children are doing well. Give my love to them.
Your loving sister,
Lillian Sin Neoi Aster
Sin Neoi- First Daughter
Jyun Sau- Graceful Hand
(Note: These names are Cantonese. Words like "jyun," "sau," etc. are reused multiple times under different accents or tones, which alter the meaning.)
Matilda and Lillian are biracial Chinese American women. The Chinatown on Canal St. in NYC really did exist and continues to be an epicenter of Chinese culture today. Many Chinese came to US as laborers to work on construction projects, like the Transcontinental Railroad. However, they faced Yellow Peril, discrimination, and the Oriental Exclusion Act of 1882, which prevented many from reuniting w/ their families on US soil. More laws based on Yellow Peril would follow, like the Oriental Exclusion Act of 1924.
I'm not sure how Jack got the idea to go to Santa Fe, so I used artistic license to place his inspiration in his early childhood- a dream never realized by his family. However, he did tell Davey that he had no folks anywhere by 1899, even in Santa Fe, so they did not reach the city of clay.