I have received your very kind letter of the 6th. I wish I could sit under a pine tree with you as you suggest, and chortle verses, interspersing them with reminiscence. But that can not be just yet, tho' I have no doubt at all that one day I shall have the privilege of knowing you more intimately, when I will not fail to make you feel how grateful I am for your friendship.
As to the questions you asked, will say: I am not married, and hope that I have no children! (Somebody ought to throw a brick at me for that!) For the past year I have been doing stunts with my pencil, and managed to live pretty well on that. I am all the time grinding away at what is the work of my life. Little by little I can see that things are taking form. I have considerable finished work up my sleeve, which I shall throw at the unoffending world when the time comes. It looks like it might be coming at a comfortable little canter. I have not thought carefully about leaving Nebraska, but of course if I could see a better way, I should go that way. I'm rather afraid of a city, however. I was born near one and lived most of my life in one. Perhaps I might have more sense the next time. You understand.
I shall surely have my friend call on you when he goes back. He will arrive here about August first and will probably be back
I trust that you will thoroughly enjoy your outing, and I shall pray that you have good fisherman's luck! However, I am not certain that I stand well with the Old Man who gathers in the prayers.
Jno. G. Neihardt
