Chandler writes that he has been building a log cabin. While he is writing the letter, several men are around and one "Chinaman," a cook, is asking questions about the meaning of words that Chandler is writing. Chandler allows the "Chinaman" to write on the letter. The Chinese lettering, written by a Chinese man named Ah Pay, and a brief paragraph containing a translation appear on page three. Notations in pencil on the first page at the top read: “Chinaman’s Postscript.” Pencil marks highlight certain parts of the text pertaining to the title. This letter does not indicate the year. In order for the 15th day of December to be a Wednesday, the year could only be 1858 or 1869. Since Chandler’s daughter, May, who died in 1860, is alive when this letter was written, the year must be 1858.
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