It is evident in the extended excerpt from Walter’s (my dad’s) first letter that he has already found his better way to live and has his Christian way of expressing it. He hopes that Margaret will be interested in exploring that Christian reality with him.
But is that hope realistic? His father immigrated from Sweden as an indentured servant. Her father and mother and most of her brothers and sisters were leading members of their communities by virtue of their either being pastors or married to pastors living in towns, have college degrees, and are musically trained. Walter has no musical training, didn’t go to college, and looks forward to being a tenant farmer.
However, should Margaret be the soulmate he seeks, his hope is not unrealistic. Things much more than social status and locality come into play when finding and recognizing a soulmate. One that stands out in the encountering phase is a compatibility in their concern for life and in that in which they place their trust. Understanding and appreciation in what they mutually feel free to share and need to know of each other’s personality is another of utmost importance.
Both come through in the expressions that follow, first from Walter’s perspective and then from Margaret’s. The specific happenings they describe reflect the context of their time, but the relational issues they must address transcend both time and culture. Those that stand out in commonly understood terms have been italicized.
(8/30 11) Writing letters has always been a difficult task for me. I do not know how to start one, I have trouble finishing them and I do not know what to put in between. I find that this tends to make my letters very brief. . . . I like to read the letters that Paul [the New Testament apostle] wrote better than any I have ever read. You are in no doubt about the author of the letter and you do not have to look to the end of the letter to find out. I shall copy his salutation and just as he wished Gods Grace and peace upon all of his friends so I to hope that you may experience just such Grace and Peace throughout this year and those to come.…Now Margaret I have set down my thots as they came. They are imperfect My grammar is imperfect and I am a poor writer especially when writing too fast. For all these I humbly apologize. To make a long story short I was impressed by your sincerity and oneness with Him. Altho I only knew you a few weeks I am sure I was not mistaken. I shall pray that you may ever continue in him and always be a light unto others. I hope that I may hear from you occasionally during the coming months.… I have had the pictures developed that we took in the Poudre Canyon and on Cameron Pass. I am sending three of them.…There are also some pictures of the Medicine Bow Range in Wyoming where I was with Frank Lunn this last Thurs. and Fri.… We slept under the moon and the stars at an altitude of 10,000 ft. The night was mild and very beautiful, with the dwarfed pine trees throwing many grotesque shadows about us. But we were tired after climbing the peak and did not mind the shadows.
(10/7 25) “When I consider the heavens, the works of thy fingers, The moon and the stars which thou has ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Psalm 8: 3,4. I have so many things to be thankful for today. As I took a short walk after supper, to thank Him for my many blessings, I wondered at the fact that he is mindful of me. But I remember that we are told “in the 12th Chap of Luke the 7th verse” that even the hairs of our heads are numbered.…After services last Sunday Robert Johnson and I drove to the top of the Trail ridge road, (12183 ft) and back to Greeley. The aspen, the woodbine and small shrubbery were beautiful in their many colored hues. As we were coming down we saw the beautiful sunset. I wish that you might have been along and enjoyed the whole trip but especially as we came into one of the parks just above Estes Park. There we saw a large herd of elk feeding and the bugle of the bull elks is a sound I shall never forget. It is actually beautiful and very musical.… You tell of studying Emerson in English class and let me say here and now that it was harder for me than any other subject. I should never have boasted but my 98 without study was in Commercial Geography.
(10/17 29) Walter, this morning the S. S. superintendent asked me to teach the young peoples’ Bible class. I declined because it takes a lot of preparation and I do enjoy having Sunday be one when I can drink in knowledge rather than give out.… Marie Nesting and I were down to the river the other evening. The moon was shining down over the water so that it made a golden path across the river. I wish that I could have walked right across it.… To think that you got to hear the bugle call of the bull elk. I asked Mr. Thorson what the sound was like. He said that it resembled the coyote’s call but that [it] was deeper and more sonorous. Was he right?
(10/25 38) Mr. Thorson’s description of the elks call is very good altho I might say that if you were alone and heard a coyote call it would cause you to pause and shudder, then quicken your step, while the call of the elk causes you to stop and strain to hear it again. I believe this would be true even though you had never heard either one before.
(11/11 56) Since the harvest is over I have started rising early enough to allow me at least one half hour in communion with Him and in His word. First upon arising, I go to an open window and breathe deeply with clean fresh air. Then I do a routine of exercises which help to keep the body fit and supple. God has granted me strength and health and I feel it my duty to maintain it to the best of my ability. After these exercises I am well awakened and I can truly enjoy a few minutes of study, meditation and communion with Him.
(11/20 61) Dear Walter, “I love Jehovah, because he heareth / My voice and my supplications. / Because he hath inclined his ear unto me. / Therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1,2. Isn’t it wonderful that we can call upon God at all times? Oh, that I would use this wonderful gift more. It seems as though God is so near that I can whisper into His ear at times. I am so happy that He does not tire of me but continues to shower blessings upon me.… It is health building to take physical exercises and soul strengthening to meditate on God’s word each morning before starting the day’s work. I am sure that God will richly bless you and you will be better able to serve Him.
(12/5/80) I am at home this afternoon because I have quite a few little things to be done. In the first place this has been a busy week, Sunday evening at church, Monday eve, a committee met to order books and awards for the Christmas program, Tues. rifle club, an old and favorite hobby of mine, of which I am not sure of God’s will, concerning it. Will you pray that His will concerning this may soon be made clear to me. Wed. eve. I stayed at home. Thurs. eve. a joint meeting of the two church boards, Fri. eve. Luther League, Sat eve. nothing and Sun. eve. our League goes to Bethany Denver.…Why I write to you these things I do not know, but there are not many with whom I can discuss these problems. I thank you for your patient and considerate understanding friendship. Please pray for me. I am convinced that if God will have me at all, it will be on my knees in humble submission to His will.
(12/8 88) Dear Margaret: In the 1st Chap. of Ephesians the 9th verse, we find this short statement: “making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him.”… God’s will is indeed mysterious unto us. It will indeed be a glorious day when that mystery will be fully revealed unto us.…Day before yesterday I was a pall bearer at Mrs. Cora Brinkman’s funeral. “I believe that you visited them at Windsor, Colo. When you were here last summer.” It is hard to understand why a young mother should be taken from those, who in our sight need them so much. There was much consolation in the fact that she was ready to go, in order to be with her Heavenly Father. Even so the shadow of that mysterious will often persists in hanging over us.
(12/12 97) Thanks for the letters which I received from you this past week. It was sad to hear of the deaths of the baby and of Mrs. Brinkman. It doesn’t seem true. God knows what is best for His children so we just leave it all to Him to carry us through. I can just see those two darling children of Brinkman’s. Mrs. Brinkman was a consecrated Christian so she is now with her Lord. One of my sisters passed away a short time before Christmas two years ago. I can imagine that the Christmas festivities with Christ are perfect so they are exceedingly joyful. May God give Mr. Brinkman the comfort which He alone can give.
(1/13) I am preparing to move and take up batching in the near future. Mother and Bernice were in town today buying some bed clothes for me, so that I am ready to move whenever the house is vacated. When I get up there, I will be able to draw a pretty accurate picture of the house. I’ll also be able to write and tell you what color the walls and wallpaper are. If they are too bad and the floor is too bad, perhaps I could try and get some changes made just before I come for you. If there is a good crop prospect I believe Mr. Brown would do it for me, altho he squeezes every nickel pretty hard. If you would rather wait until you could supervise the job I will not say anything until then.
