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Father used to be in the habit of paying his gambling debts but I thought that he had grown old enough by this time to have more sense and selfrespect.  He was partly cause of my mothers financial troubles after Fathers death. I should be sorry to hear of mother assisting him in his gambling expenses and hope that you will please advise her not to give him money.

I also hear from Charlie that you were fortunate enough in buying our back lot which he says was sold for taxes. I should think that, since Wallace is out of the way, there would be no further claimant and if mother has any claims on it it would be between you two.  Possibly Mr Smidth the [[strikethrough] layyer [[/strikethrough]] lawyer, may give some good advise about the lot as he knows probably more than any about the dimensions of the land in the neighborhood of our house.  Although Smidth advised me to go on when I thought of building a house there for John but Mr Hallam thought it rather risky as long as Wallace had any claim on it.  However, I wish I had the money to spare now for the building of a house but if there is any plan (of course with James and mothers consent) of putting a house there for John I should be glad to pay it off gradually after I get back home.

My financial affairs have not been very flourishing since the long business crisis and then my expenses are rather heavy here too. I have enjoyed my stay here very much since I am quite undisturbed and not hampered with troubles that I always had when I was here before.  Although I am quite alone generally but Mr Barnhorn came over every now