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New Orleans April 3, 1974 Dear Jack,

  I received your latest letter on the same day I had mailed one to you, and this is a little postscript to that one.   I was moved and impressed with a small section of the letter dealing with your part in the burial of your grandfather...
  "The farm went on and Grandpa died and I helped to dig his grave.  Some thot it awful I dug some of the earth to put him in - I didn't - I thot it nice I had something to do with putting Grandpa away - something personal like.  I thot, Grandpa, your grandson, who loved you very much, is tucking you away.  That's what I thought as I dug the hard earth.  Near Israels Gap in Albemarle County, Virginia.  I dug memories and love into the earth and it was covered up and few remember anymore.  Nothing is left by a grave and memories and how many of us remember memories?"
  That's what I call some real honest-to-God writing, Jack, and I congratulate you.

Sincerely, signature Murrell marginal note in red ink: - he's 76 now! Murrell Edmunds marginal note in red ink: Va. novelist & poet - former Attorney General of Va. P.S. Why don't you send this on to Jack Conroy; he'll applaud these simple, honest, eloquent sentences, too. M.E.