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side of the new member of the family. Oh, yes, Mrs. p. wishes you 
to send us a copy of the verses on the calypso which you sent us 
many years ago and which she has put away so carefully that she 
cannot find them. 
You speak of rents, etc. We dont have to pay rent, but 
oh, tfoe taxes, and in town they are much worse than in the country. 
I dorit see any chance of our getting back to normal for a long time 
to come, if ever* I dont spend a cent which I can avoid and yet I 
have the greatest difficulty in meeting the ordinary expenses. 
The prices of all of our products have dropped and while many of 
the things which we have to buy have also gone down, the balance 
seems to be against us. We look forward to the time when the boys 
shall be home for good and we hope to have a rest and turn the 
load over th them, ^he two older have one more year and the youngest 
five or six. Me is the scientist of the family and a keen observer 
of any form of animal life. He spent his Easter vacation in the 
Snake River Canyon. The gorge is some 2500 ft. deep and I believe 
the sides show five distinct lava flows with layers of volcanic 
ash between. He had the experience of being struck by a rattler 
on which he jumped in getting down a ledge. Trie fangs went through 
his trouser leg and stuck in his sock* Phil says, »l kicked him 
ab^ut 15 feet and then shot him.” 
While r was sick this winter a friend sent me a copy of 
the Douglas Diary and I have seldom read as interesting w book* 
Mueh of the country he travelled in is very familiar to me, I have 
not seen much of it. but it is near enough for me to know a good 
deal of it* It is time for me to quit* Good night and many happy 
returns of the day. I hope the flowers get to you in good shape. 
Very sincerely yours, 
