Letter to Henry from his father February 7, 1908

Cover:

Henry S. Makibbin

U. S. S. Tennessee

Care of Post Master,

San Francisco,

Cal.
Postmarked 11:30 PM, Feb 7 1908, Harrisburg, PA

Home Port,

Harrisburg 2-07-08

My Dear Son:

Just a few words before bed.  Your most welcome & long looked for letter came today & it was so welcome & dated Jan 28 – At Madalina Bay & mailed at San Diego Feb 2.  Makes it seem very recent.  Sorry it had to be gotten off in a hurry, was anxious to know of your Christmas & the things sent to you also about target practice, for I think it work you would like.  It makes my blood stir to think of those big guns & the work they can do when the right men are back of them.

Is it possible that young Ishler is away from home without the home folks knowing his whereabouts?  This must be the case & you take this means of letting them know his location.  Of course I will hunt them up, they will be glad to know where he is at.

We were married twenty five years today.  Your letter brightened up the day for us.  Grand Pop Sourbeer & Aunt Maime was here for supper.  The chicken was good, done in a crock.

At last we have & are having some real winter zero – snow – & high winds fortunately for us road men the snow each time was followed by a little rain & made heavy the wind could not kick it up.

Times are dull & work scarce.  Dr. C. B. Fager died last month so another one of my old friends are gone.  Your mother & I are looking forward to a jaunt across the country.  How we are going to make out I do not know, but as I do not believe the days of miracles are past we will have to go forward & have faith.  I wish I knew the day your boat would be in San Francisco.

I enjoyed the tone of your letter, about the money, I have noticed, when younger, if someone found me an “easy mark” & landed on me, I would say the thing you did.  I have said often & bear with me in repeating it is not the money, so much, as it is the habit of saving.  If you allow that to become part of your nature, you will stand a good chance of being an independent man.  God grant that you may.

I look at things like you will see them when you are in your fiftieth years.  You will then see why I am so interested in the things that are to cut such a large figure in your life.

Good night.