Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 160, 1895

Hall, Sister

North Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

April 15, 1895

Previously unpublished.

Dear Sister Hall:

In company with May Lacey we left Sydney last Thursday and came to Melbourne en route for Tasmania where there will be a convention from April 28 to May 6. We shall meet Willie, Brother and Sister Corliss, and Brother Colcord coming on the boat from New Zealand to Hobart, Tasmania. I am in some uncertainty in regard to my grandchildren, but from letters written I think they must be on the next steamer, in charge of Brother and Sister Palmer. We may not be at Sydney to meet them on their arrival, but we will have our family meet them. They know Marian and Fannie, and have, I think, some knowledge of Byron and Sarah Belden. These will help make them feel at home until their father shall meet them. I shall be sorry that we could not be at our home when they shall come from the boat into it. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 1

Elder Olsen wrote me in regard to the high state of excitement the children were in when they heard of their father’s intended marriage. I am very sorry that Mary [Mortenson] had intimated to the children that she had some idea she might sometime become their mother, because there has not been any encouragement given them in this line. Mary has been a hired, trusted, discreet manager in W. C. White’s family, but there has not been any idea of making Mary his wife. He has plainly stated this to her after hearing reports made to this effect. I feel sorry that the children should be compelled to pass through this ordeal, because Mary has drawn so largely upon their sympathy. We appreciate Mary very much as a careful, judicious manager of children, and we have stated plainly that we appreciated this. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 2

Now, there has been a real desire on my part to have Mary come to Australia, but after reading the letters from Elder Olsen and Mary, Ella May White, and Mabel, we have changed our ideas. Brother Olsen writes he had not the least idea of the situation until he talked with Mary and the children. After this talk he decided it would not be best to have her come to Australia, for it would make things disagreeably perplexing for all parties. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 3

The children will love May Lacey. She is a treasure that I appreciate. I have not the least question in regard to this matter of the children loving May Lacey. They simply could not help loving her. I am much pleased that Willie will have a good, sensible wife, one whom he can love and who will love him and help him in his labors. If Mary had not entertained these ideas, then she could have come to us and been a help to us, and I am sorry that it cannot be thus. But it would make a complexity we would have difficulty in managing. So we hope Mary will not cross the broad waters. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 4

You wrote me at one time in regard to my furniture that was in Petoskey and that Sister Salisbury was going to dispose of for me, but you have not referred to the business since. Was anything done about the matter? Cannot Jessie be sold, if for only one hundred dollars, and the means sent to me, where I can use it in the many ways that are constantly opening that demand means for the work and cause of God? The poverty that is seen everywhere is calling upon us for help, and the new fields opening continually demand help. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 5

Sister Hall, will you please search among my books. I must have an extra Bible. Mine is no more use to me, except to cut up. Will you see if there is a set of Health Reformers? I had a set I got from Henry Millar. They must be found among my books. I also want a case made for my Bible, a good-sized Bible, and when a box of books comes, please send them to me. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 6

I want you to see this letter I send to Dr. Kellogg. If you shall see other books you think that I will need, please put them in and make the address plain. I want half a dozen bound Instructors that I can lend to families to read. I want one dozen Historical Sketches to give to different ones. I want twenty-five Life Sketches. I want twenty-five Gospel Primers to send to the Islands. I would not send this to you, but I want you to attend to it and see that these books come without any delay in the next shipment of books. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 7

If you have any of my garments in plush not sent, please send them at the first opportunity. There is a good lap robe given me by Mr. Millar and Emily Tellome [?]; please send me that. Anything that will come without much expense, to save money on this end of the line, I will be glad to receive. I need these things. You have been very willing to do anything to help me. I thank you so much. I must now close. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 8

Much love to you all. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 9

But a word more. I am sorry you cannot be with me, dear Sister Lucinda. As I have been situated, I have needed someone who was fitted to manage in my family. I have kept a free hotel now so long; I have no real manager. It is a great outlay of means. I decide to change the program. I shall now dismiss my workers and let them hire a small establishment. I will do the same. Let them share the expense between them and leave me with Emily and a girl to do my cooking. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 10

The elements in my family are not such as give me peace and rest, and why should I keep up this expensive establishment and hire help to take care of comers and goers and yet try to write my book? And not having managing ability or tact to carry on this establishment, causing me great perplexities of mind to make ends meet, I decide is foolishness. The members of my family feel at liberty to ask whomsoever they please to visit and sit at my table, and fourteen is our family number most of the time. I mean it shall be otherwise. I am stirred up with comers to remain a few days and do business in the city and then to place them in the most comfortable quarters; then after a week or two stirred up to send them off with luncheon and a supply of fruit. This happens over and over again. There is no quietude. My girls doing the cooking complain. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 11

Washings are made necessarily large by changing beds for ever-new comers and goers. I am wild to consent to any such position as I have been in since coming to New South Wales. It is exactly as if I had a sign attached to my premises, “Hotel where man and beast may be provided lodgings and food.” Do not think I have lost my mind, for I think I am just coming to my senses. There will be as many as eight or ten that will be introduced to my home for a council meeting; then, although we have no suppers in our family, it is supposed we will prepare supper for them, and it has always been done. I am thinking it is time to call a halt. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 12

I will say I think your reasons for not coming to me are reasonable. I accept them. Stand at your post of duty, and I will not draw you away. 10LtMs, Lt 160, 1895, par. 13