'Four Crude Dudes and the Land of Hope' tell the story of how the lives
of a thief, a bully, a cheat and a liar negatively impact upon each
other during the days of the 'Californian Gold Rush'; leaving the hero
of the story, Farmer Hope, with all the wealth, despite him having never
sought it. The story essentially shows that when greed becomes one's
god, then all goodness goes out the window. The victory of the
God-fearing Farmer Hope who seeks only to look after his family and his
neighbours while all around are abandoning their contented lives to seek
gold and increased prosperity in the land of plenty. It is a vindication
and endurance of the 'good' in mankind over that of the 'bad.'