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honest. Egbert has come to the end of the renovation of the houses that Mr D. owns. He has been at work steadily since the 1st of March except for about two weeks on Mr. D's houses - and now, unless he had a fire they will go for some time. A contractor who always gives him work when he has it has not even enough to keep himself busy. The labor market is glutted with those who have come in here from all the western states looking for work in a favorable climate and who have an idea that Cal. is always prosperous. It has demoralized wages and there is so very little work to be had. I have been getting more & more home sick each year & Ralph's death seemed to be the last straw. My relatives have been dying for the past few years, so many of them, that I feel as if I'd like to see the few I have left. Will you ask  Ralph if he would wish us to come there to his house when we arrive? I hope none of you will think that we are coming to "live off" anyone. We would both of us rather die than do that. If conditions