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                                                       2 March 1973
Dear Doris:

             No word from you this week. I hope that all is well with you. Maybe you are getting out your income tax papers, which I have been doing this week. It is a chore that always I hate more than anything. This year Virginia has adopted much the same sort of paper that the Federal one has it is very confusing. The old Virginia one was simple and I didN't dread it, but this one has all the Federal perplexities. I've had to call up asking what to do in some points.

           Nothing much else; I've been correcting the proof of my short Colaspis[[underlined]] paper, naming to get the name out to use. I had a letter from him yesterday. He has written so often that now he signs himself as "Gene o." (Eugene Ostmark).

          The little crocuses are blooming and some snowdrops are also out. It is mild, with temp up to 60 yesterday. Work on the road is proceeding at a great rate. They have cut thru a road nearly opposite me. Mrs. Peacock, the doctor's wife, came over yesterday to tell me all she could learn about what is next. They are putting in gas pipes along the road but won't hook up with the houses for some time yet. I've gotten them to promise they will let me know when they do, so I can stay home and see that the gas is turned off when they disconnect, so I shan't be blown up with it when it comes on again.
          I had a letter from the son of my tenants in S toughton. He has recently gotten thru school and has a job as a state trooper from Boston west. He wrote that he would like to buy the old place sometime later, so his parents would always live there. He offered $20,000. Now it is assessed by the tax people as over $260000 I'm not going to let it go at any less, and it should bring well over $30,000. Now you remember that if I should die. There is room enough for a houselot on either side, which would bring $6000, apiece good price too if I can hang onto it till I die.
 
                  Take care of yourself.
                             With love,