John Morgan, Percy Harold, Maeser Morgan Rex,
standing in front of their Randolph, Utah home, prior to Morgan's deployment.
January 19, 1938
My dear dear boy,
Right now, I am going to sit down and write to you. It is
nearly six o’clock and I am getting supper ready. Just received your letter of
Dec. 17, and was, oh so pleased to get it. Of course it was written before your
airmail letter, but nevertheless we enjoyed it very much, so I will chat about
it first.
That is a lovely picture of Winnie, isn’t it. I have mine
where I can see it all the time. I think my daughters are just grand but don’t
say it’s too bad you are her brother. My dear, you have no idea how proud I am
of my boys. Your work down there is a constant joy to me, and Morgan is growing
into a fine serious fellow who loves things like physics and geometry. I do
hope you can accomplish all the things you desire to so much. I am surely happy
these days, especially when I think of my children. I received a letter from
Helen also tonight
Last night a young man came to see me. Do you remember those
three salesmen you met in Evanston a day or two before you left. You know they
sold Helen a couple of dresses. Well, one Karl Page, liked Helen very much, and
so he came up to see me. He kept saying “She is one swell girl.” I should like
to capture him for Winnie. He is the sweetest kid. He always wants to know all
about you and is looking forward to seeing you when you come home. I like him
because he is fine & clean looking, and does he love life.
You mentioned buying a camera. I do hope you were able to
keep it. We are looking forward to seeing pictures of Brazil. I am wondering if
you have enough money now. Do be very observing. We shall have many many
questions to ask you. Did you write to Mr. D. P. Murray. Possibly you didn’t
get my letter saying he was much interested in you and will help
I have written a play for the R.S. today. It has been fun,
but I do get tired. Myrtle Jones is the new R.S. Pres. And I still teach
literature.
Have you decided to come straight home. Possibly that is the
best. Daddy has some debts to pay and a hundred dollars is quite a bit right
now. If you come home by N.Y. I shall send you Vash Young’s address and you can
call on him. He gave me or my family a very urgent invitation.
They cleaned the church today to make it ready for carpet
and drapes. Wont that be grand.
We have no snow so far, and a very mild winter. Different
from any winter I have seen here so far.
And now my dear, you are much further away from us, but I’m
so glad it is cooler. I looked it up on the map, and the weather, I judge, is
about the same as our southern states. I do hope you like it. I think you have
been rewarded for your good work.
Did I tell you Roy went back to his mission Monday morning.
Bob W. will be home next month.
Did I tell you Helen found Aunt Lile. They didn’t know her.
Dear dear, I told you about the boy’s baby beef didn’t I. I
am getting tired and sleepy, so I better be closing. There isn’t any news in
town of any importance.
Keep up your good work, my son and the Lord will ever bless
you. We wait for your letters each week and love to hear from you.
Love & kisses from all of us.
Lovingly,
Mother
Note: Eliza Ann Morgan Smith is Bessie's older sister born February 8, 1875. Vash Young is #8 in Bessie's classroom picture on this post.
The love she has for her children really comes through in this letter. Myrtle Jones is Myrtle Rex Jones. The oldest of William and Mary Rex's grandchildren but you may already know this.
ReplyDelete"There isn't any news in town of any importance." :-) And after a wonderful letter like this! Grandmother Bessie may not have thought so, but her letter is full of "news" and "love." She writes the kind of news I love.
ReplyDeleteThank you Flora Lee for noting who Myrtle Jones is. I needed the reminder, but now recognize her name. She's the author of a DUP history I've seen. I agree with you, I too feel Grandmother Bessie's love for her children!
This seems to be the most cheerful letter she has written. Yet my heart hurt when she talked about Uncle Harold coming home and what laid ahead for the family....
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. I concur with your feelings Nancy. There was a time I could not read through these letters without feeling guilty because I knew what was coming. Our grandmother was busy living her life, and trying to get through. And she barely had the health and energy for that on many a day.
ReplyDelete