Charles E. H. Bates Family Correspondence, 1899-1930 - 2

to her in which you spoke so highly of our regard for her father & she seemed to appreciate it greatly [underlined] & thought it wonderful that so young [underlined] a fellow as you could seem to appreciate so much of what life means & its object & so forth as you did in speaking of her father & his work in life & of what we should all try to do during our short life time –

She had written me before a card acknowledging ours of sympathy & said it was

"It was good to hear from you, because you know [underlined] how he loved [underlined] you all and how interested he was in the boys."

She asked about Jocelyn & urged me to take it to the President if necessary to prevent his going into the service as it would be as bad as murder to allow him to go in – She [double underlined] said in case of certain pressure brought to bear on an injury of that kind it might [underlined] prove fatal – and injury for life would be as bad anyway & Dr. Eaves said it might [undelined] cause that. Though he never said it might.

be lated -– I am wondering the stooping over to pull "water grass" which happens is weeds of some sort is not rather bad for Jocelyn under the cicumstances.

Our Les writes that he has been called back to North Island to have his heart examined. As they have discovered there is a murrmer [murmur] & tho very slight it may be enough to prevent his going on with his course. It will be a great disappointment to him no doubt if he is not retained & I shall be sorry for his disappointment (but not [underlined] selfishly speaking)

but perhaps he can get into something else that he would like as well & I hope [underlined] less dangerous.

I hope dear that you are not selfish as regards H.L. & that you try to return some of their kindnesses to you. It does not do [underlined] to be disobliging with people who have been hospitable and so forth to you. So don't over do that "indifference" stunt. It might seem ungrateful & they would get disgusted in that case.

Fond love dear from us all – we enjoy your letters hugely. [underlined]

Father & I are lonely but I am too tired to feel much else this week. I got rather exhausted before Jocelyn left & have not felt well since – Lovingly

Mother

H. J. Bates c/o Western Rice Nelson, Cal. June 14, 1918.

Dear Edward:

I am now at Nelson, California on Mr. Linderman's land in which 1200 acres are in wheat, 700 in rice & 300 in barley.

I arrived here today from his other land at Willows where he has about 2200 acres in rice. It is certainly interesting work & which I hope I shall like very much. However one can't enjoy work when the heat is so terrific as it has been. Tuesday it was 114°C at Willows, Wednesday 95°C. with a thunder & fork lightning storm, Thursday 87°C with seven fires, forest and grain, whereas at Nelson today it was about 85°C.. Although much cooler than Tuesday it is again working up to a hot spell. Their [there] are quite a few mosquitoes & flys but most of them I think harmless.

The wheat is wonderful, the best I have seen around here. It ought to