Cover:
Mr. Henry S.
Makibbin
U. S. N.
Training Station
Newport
R. I.
Barracks C.
Postmarked
11:30 PM, Sep 4 1907, Harrisburg PA
Wednesday 1.30 P.M. Sep. 4-‘07
Dear Henry –
One week from today is Anna’s birthday, of course she wants
a party, but that I guess will hardly be forthcoming. However like her brothers she shall have a
birthday cake and candles. I do hope
your cough is about over, let me know about it.
I had hoped that Anna & I would get down to aunt Doll’s
today but it rained most of yesterday, all night and most of this morning, so
more than likely we will go on papa’s train and stay until Saturday.
We had Mrs. W – and Ruth with us Saturday night, Mrs. Duey
on Sunday night. We were out at
Grandpa’s for dinner Sunday, and had a bite of supper with Mrs. Will – who
afterwards went to Church with me to hear Mr. H. first of the series “A Man or
a Sparrow – which?” I am going to try
and hear as many as I possibly can. He
took for his text – “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of
them is forgotten before God.” He said
the odd sparrow, the fifth one thrown in, was almost worthless, noticed of God
and then how much more he cared for mankind each one.
While Socialists and reformers are all saying – better
conditions and you will improve the individual and he will improve society –
God’s way is to regenerate the human heart and that will help better everything
with which he comes in contact. That to
the woman at the well, to the paralytic at Bethesda and the painted woman of
the street, the Savior helped the person for his and her sake and good. Not what they would do for others but what
each first must do for himself. Then he
pointed out the fact that the greatest, most powerful sermons preached by Jesus
were preached to a single soul. In
closing he said no matter where we are, what we are doing, what is going on
where we are placed, if we are seemingly all alone, the thought to always have
with us is “He cares for us.”
For our closing hymn we sang this by Whittier which I will
copy:
I bow my
forehead in the dust,
I veil mine
eyes for shame,
And urge, in
trembling self-distrust,
A prayer
without a claim.
No offering
of mine own I have,
Nor works my
faith to prove;
I can but
give the gifts He gave,
And plead
his love for love!
I dimly
guess, from blessings known,
Of greater
out of sight;
And, with
the chastened psalmist, own
His
judgements too are right.
And if my
heart and flesh are weak
To bear an
untried pain,
The bruised
reed he will not break,
But
strengthen and sustain.
I know not what the future had
Of marvel or
surprise,
Assumed
alone that life and death
His mercy
underlies.
And so
beside the silent sea
I wait the muffled
oar:
No harm from
[unclear] can come to me
On ocean or
on shore.
I know not
where his islands lift
Their
fronded palms in air;
I only know
I cannot drift
Beyond His
love and care.
And thou, O
Lord, by whom are seen
The creatures
as they be,
Forgive me
if too close I lean
My human
heart on thee.
- John G.
Whittier
The church was full downstairs we sat on chars then in that
little offset on Granite – Ruth played the small organ – there must have been
something wrong with the large one, I did not hear anyone say.
You cannot know how glad I was to hear of the kindly commendations
and real interest of your officer in charge.
It shows the right spirit in you and I am not surprised for somehow I
always feel you will do the right thing in work or play I feel sure you will do
the honorable part.
8 – P.M –
I had a card from Emma saying she will be down net Tuesday
for a little visit – I am in hopes she will come this fall to stay but of
course she may not but I’m going to see how the land lies.
I heard through Phoebe Sunday that Carrie & her mother
would be here in about two weeks, that her father had come in unexpectedly and
they are going to stop on their way out a couple days.
Anna can scarcely wait for school to begin and Park wished
the school would burn down, all the schools!
He was here and spent the day with Anna yesterday.
I saw Ross Hall Monday he seems to be getting stouter.
Papa says the white uniforms with the blue collar look
fine. I did not get to prayer meeting it
is so very damp. And I have not been
well thought am much better.
Alfred expects to get a day at Atlantic this week, his mother
suggested that she and I go while I was in Phila but the week is going too fast
so it isn’t likely to happen. We have
been looking for a card from Fred but nothing came, we were disappointed. Today he expected to go to Anglesea as it was
Mr. M’s day home.
I do hope this will find you well and with much love and a
goodnight –
God bless and keep you,
