Sabbath evening Dec. 29 [1907]
Dear dear Son –
How glad I was to have your letter it did seem a long, long
time but was not so bad for us as you.
It was too bad but papa did not think we could reach you. Well I am sure though by this time you have
had a number of letters and I hope something more. I did so want to send you some smoked sausage
but your father was afraid till you got it cooked, by favor of the cook and
give a bit here and a bit there and maybe some fellow steal a march on you,
that you wouldn’t get any. But I have
tried to send you some things of not much value in themselves but of untold
value when sent with hearts full of love.
Henry I cannot tell you how I felt for you when I read your
letter but amidst my tears I was proud of your honesty and your dear
confidence. And it is right in a way
many things we all have to learn by experience and it is often a dear teacher
but a good one, only make the most of it and keep up your courage and take I
have faith enough to believe it will all come right.
And above all else be above things of evil report, you can
be courteous to your comrades in work but need not be of them. I am glad you have found someone who is
trying to do right and thinks & tries to live as you. You must tell him your mother’s dearest
friend is a Lutheran and I am glad you are friends, remember me to him and tell
him I shall pray for him too. Oh how
sadly these dear boys all need their mothers’ prayers and help in many
ways. I know you are sorry and I am sure
you will prove it by doing your best now, if you are faithful and a manly boy
and your conduct true it cannot but bring its reward and blessing. You would never dishonor yourself or us by
leaving in disgrace, I think I could never hold up my head. And for your mother’s sake never think of it.
About going on the other side there will be much that would
be grand for you and that talk of being stationed is only talk, we will hope
for better things. The captain on the
Washington told Mrs. Magee they expected to be gone two years. Your father & I are planning all the nice
things we will want you to bring home so be of good cheer, I myself dare not
think of the time, if I was well I could bear it better but I have awful
battles to fight and must be brave for the rest of you. So you see dear you are not alone in this and
we are praying for strength for you all the time.
I am anxious too about your money. I believe if I were you I’d deposit most of
it or see what you could do, papa has found it a good plan not to have much
about him. We have lost money trying to
help people and I would certainly hate to see you lose any of your hard earned
money. My Henry don’t you think it
belittles a man to be of that stamp always in debt only to be a spendthrift.
I shall enquire who it is on the Hill, we have not heard of
anyone.
Fred and Anna are going to Phila in the morning on papa’s
train for the day. They will go to see
Independence Hall & then out to Aunt Lizzie’s for dinner, and come in and
look around the stores & back at 5.30.
It is the pass papa got to go to Norfolk, you know he had to have a
separate one for them to Phila.
It is just a bit after nine and papa & Anna have gone to
bed, Fred went an errand to Will – and I want to finish your letter so he can
take it to the mail. I enclose Anna’s
which she wrote all by herself.
I almost forgot to tell you, my Chinese lilies you got me
last fall a year are in bed, you know they only grew to leaves last spring, but
this time I cut them as I had seen somewhere.
That was indeed strange about the grasshoppers & I
believe you are right about it. I am so
glad you stay well. That copy of the
certificate is quite an idea, or the style rather. I know you enjoyed the lectures & you
will like The Virginian. I was glad you
had a card from Howard. Do write us all
the little things that concern your daily life or anything that troubles and we
will do our best to help. Those
photographs are beautiful.
God bless and keep you pure.
With love and a Good New Year, lovingly –
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