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CEHBates765
am very glad you are getting on all right. Are you able to get all you need in the way of clothing etc. Your father wants you to say [underlined] so if you need money. We will try to let you have it if you need it dear. & Les too we expect [underlined] you both to let us know your needs and until you get really started we want to help you all we can.
Fondest love and in great haste
Your loving Mother R. Helen Bates
Enclose some Kodacs [Kodaks] have the same for Les so don't send yours to him. I have his already to send.
Mother
CEHBates766
Home June 5, 1918.
Dear Edward:
I meant to write some time ago to congratulate you on your commission. It certainly is fine and everyone is delighted. Well I have been almost too busy to write for I went to Willows, California in the Sacramento Valley onto the rice fields with Mr. Linderman. It
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surely was wonderful.
They want me to work up there & I think I'll leave next week to work. They are giving me a position of light work, an overseers job, so I can study rice, grains, hogs, etc. It is the best chance I ever could expect to get. They have egged [underlined] me to work because a U. C. Ag man. They feel that after a few months I'll be a handy man. That is valuable man for the concern. Mr. Linderman
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you know is interested in the rice movement. They have 2,053 acres in rice and 1400 acres in wheat and 500 acres in barley. Some ranch.
I expect to make good money "arou"[crossed out] anywhere from $2.50 to $4.00 per day, to start including board, etc. He said I ought to be making over $5.00 before long.
Gosh Boo & I'll get hitched someday yet. By the way Boo asked me to send
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her love and to congratulate you. They have two big ranches 1 at Willows and the other at Nelson. Boo & I want to live at Nelson, "Hah, Ha!" [underlined]
I am working for father on a bookkeeping job. About 4 days work.
I registered this morning and was the first one; I was up there at 6.45 A.M.
Well Sned hoping all is well & with love
As ever
Your loving brother
Jocelyn Bates[scribbled out]
3 letters from Dick, dear boy.
CEHBates769
Saturday June 8th 1918.
My dear Edward,
We are all very proud of your success and congratulate you most heartily.
I intended to write promptly — I hope that you and Lesley can see each other often. It will mean much to you both to be near each other — I'd love to see you both myself — I praised your Aunt Rebecca's being able to — And to see your mother father & Jocelyn Aunt Eleanor & little John and all.