I send the matters you have asked for (according to my poor ability). You didn’t say what kind of socks. I could not find any satisfactory slippers; am sorry these are shabby but there were no better. Floss is not sold by the pound. The dress maker thought she knew how much you wanted. The Pineapple is my valentine to you & your friends. The books & booklets from Mr Dodge for the children.

Martin gives a more favorable account of you & of matters generally than I expected to receive. I think we have been very fortunate under all the circumstances. I am rather sorry that the men were diddled out of a month’s wages more for the benefit of the other creditors, but it was all done for the best. I think Martin is a little over anxious that we should be able to go on. I don’t want to turn my hand to save the Company from failure if it ought to fail. I think the men have all been very lenient and forbearing & we should feel grateful & generous to them rather than jealous and suspicious & guarded and pugnacious. I feel that their interests & mine are identical, not rival as I think Martin & Pieper do—and I would deal with them as far as possible as friends who have behaved very well and had a right to do a good many things if they thought best which I would not think best. I am sorry for them & want them to know it, but whether they believe it or not I am sorry & would befriend them if I could even if they believed me to be their enemy, as it is natural they should do.

Miller is employed only as a mechanical agent in the Landscape Gardening. He is industrious & accurate, conscientious & zealous in his work. He came over yesterday & seems to be getting on very well. In matters of taste there is nothing left to his discretion.

Ashburner expects to go to Washoe in a few days & that will [318]leave me more lonely than ever here. Rainy disagreeable weather today. I send you a few goodies.