Over My Shoulder

Chapter 17—Finances

After our return from Chico, Dores and I took an apartment on the second floor of Father’s house, where we continued the pleasant association with our family and where I could help now and then with the routine work at the office. It was there, in the White House as we jokingly called it, that our first child, Virgil Eugene, was born early in 1908. OMS 114.1

As we now had two Grandma Whites—Great-grandma Ellen G. and Grandma Ethel May—the latter suggested that to save confusion we call her Mamma White. She didn’t like being called Grandma, anyway, as it made her feel old, when in reality she was still a young woman. OMS 114.2

Ellen G. White had given Father a few acres of land near her home on which he built a house and planted an orchard and garden. The adults living there soon became aware of the fact that there were two babies in the house, our own Virgil Eugene and Mother’s little Arthur Lacey White, who preceded Virgil by three months. The two boys became great playmates and spent much time together as long as we lived near Elmshaven. OMS 114.3

Finances were really nip and tuck, with all of us stretching the pennies. Clothes were worn as long as there was any wear in them and then cut down for younger members of the family. OMS 114.4

Once when Elder A. G. Daniells was visiting in our home, he playfully turned our 3-year-old son over his knee, pretending to spank him. Noticing that one leg of his trousers was a slightly darker gray than the other, he looked up at me quizzically and I hurried to explain. OMS 114.5

Mother had cut down a well-worn pair of Father’s trousers into a pair for Henry, and a pair of my husband’s, also well-worn, for Herbert. When the twins had gotten all the wear possible out of them, they were handed on to me. From the usable portions of both outfits I salvaged one last pair for our little son. Henry’s trousers were slightly darker than Herbert’s; and that’s how it came about that one leg of Virgil’s was slightly darker than the other. Elder Daniells laughed heartily when he understood the situation. OMS 114.6

Our parents had built a large house, hoping that by renting apartments and taking in boarders they might extend the influence of a Christian home to young people who were working in the nearby health food factory, and at the same time recover the cost of building the big house. Another reason was to have room available for renters so that Mother and the children would not be left entirely alone during Father’s many and long absences. OMS 115.1

We knew that generous-hearted Grandmother White would gladly have increased the salaries of her workers were it not for the continually advancing expenses incurred in connection with preparing the manuscripts and getting out her new books, a task she was pushing forward before her lifework should close. In those days our publishing houses were not in a financial position to meet all the expenses of producing the books called for, and often the cost of illustrating, typesetting, and plate making were borne by the author. This was the case with such books as The Ministry of Healing, The Great Controversy, and The Acts of the Apostles. The author, who had advanced the money, would recover his investment by way of a royalty, a certain percentage of the sale price of each book sold. OMS 115.2

The translation and abridgment of books for overseas mission presses was an expensive proposition, and Grandma bore much of the burden. The heavy costs not only consumed her resources, but called for the borrowing of money. Besides these demands upon Grandma, appeals were constantly coming to her for financial assistance in establishing schools, health institutions, and printing offices overseas. At the same time, she always felt a personal responsibility in caring for sick and discouraged workers, and in assisting promising but impoverished youth to gain an education. OMS 115.3

Grandma could not bear to see the publication of much-needed books delayed; she would at times mortgage her book royalties far into the future to keep the wheels moving. The workers in her office shared her self-sacrificing spirit and were willing to accept a small wage, even if it meant going without some pleasures and, at times, even some things that were usually regarded as essentials. OMS 115.4

After Dores and I had been married five years we began thinking about building a home of our own. Between Elmshaven and Father’s house were two acres of tillable land that Grandma gave to Dores and me for a building site. Here we erected a five-room cottage complete with basement and sleeping porch. OMS 116.1

Our new home was completed three months before our eagerly awaited daughter made her appearance. On that hectic night, only one hour before her arrival, Dores parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Robinson, and their teen-aged daughter, Gladys, were on their way from the St. Helena station to our home. They had come from Nebraska for a long-anticipated, long-promised visit. They were met in St. Helena by Father White’s carriage and taken to his home, where they were cordially entertained and treated to supper, baths, and beds. Dores, torn between anxiety over what was happening at our house and a natural desire to visit with his parents, whom he had not seen for several years, moved nervously back and forth between the two houses. OMS 116.2

Next morning the Robinsons, who had been informed of the arrival of their first granddaughter, walked down the hill to our cottage. They ohed and ahed over the new baby in proper grandparental fashion, counted her fingers and toes, observed the color of hair and eyes, discussed that most difficult question of which of her ancestors did she most closely resemble, and finally pronounced her “a perfect child,” a fact that her parents knew already. We named her Mabel after my sister. OMS 116.3

During the Robinsons’ three-day stay, they were entertained at the “White House,” and we also enjoyed many delightful visits together while I lay cuddling my little one. Then Father Robinson had to return to his duties as president of the Nebraska Conference. Gladys remained with us for several months, and she and I formed a close attachment that continued through the years. OMS 116.4

The spring after building our cottage we planted some fruit trees and made a strawberry patch and a kitchen garden. Then we decided to go into the poultry business, with the hope that in time it would help reimburse us for our expense in building our home. We planted an alfalfa patch, fenced off a chicken run, and built a poultry house. OMS 116.5

Unfortunately, Dores and I were both inexperienced at this business. To our disappointment, the project increased rather than diminished our financial obligations. Many a night after the children were asleep we sat together at our kitchen table studying our budget. The interest on our house mortgage was absorbing too large a portion of our income. OMS 116.6

Fortunately, we managed to avoid discussing our financial problems in front of the children. They never realized that we were poor, except perhaps when they found it hopeless to linger over the toy counters in the stores we infrequently visited in St. Helena. OMS 117.1

To show how successful we were in maintaining a worry-free home atmosphere, I will incorporate here some memories Virgil has written covering his early years. OMS 117.2

“We had a small plot of ground beside our house, part of which was planted to strawberries. We used to go out regularly with Mother to pick them. When there was an extra nice lot, she would pick a couple of baskets and have me take them over to Elmshaven for Grandma White. Of course, I did not usually see her, for she was up in her room, busy with her writing; but the housekeeper would take them and thank me. Occasionally we would see her pass in her carriage while going for a drive with Miss Sara McEnterfer, her nurse and private secretary; and sometimes, by previous arrangement, Mabel and I were permitted to go riding with them. OMS 117.3

“Sometimes we visited the fruit orchard and gleaned some fruit for our table. For our playground, we had the whole world of nature. Oh, those were wonderful days as with my companions I roamed the fields and hills surrounding Elmshaven. OMS 117.4

“The big barn was a wonderful place to explore and in which to play. There were stalls for the horses, and one corner had long rows of hens’ nests. The best fun of all was to climb the ladder into the hayloft, where we could run and jump and tumble with the utmost abandon. What fun it was to watch the hay being thrust down the big holes into the mangers for the horses! And what wonderful lanterns that barn had. Real bull’s eyes they were, with globes much thicker and larger than ordinary lanterns and much more expensive. One of these had been left hanging under the bridge that spanned the creek, where repair work was being done. I must have been about 4 years old when one day I picked up a stone and threw it at the lantern. Crash! It was a straight shot, but I think Father was rather sorry he had spent so much time teaching me to throw straight at tin cans set up in our back yard. Before I got through with that episode, I was as sorry as he. Those globes were rather costly. OMS 117.5

“Above the sanitarium, about a mile from our home, I had a number of playmates. On the main road to the college lived the three Walter children—Edwin, Marvin, and June. Their father ran the general store at the sanitarium. Coming home one day from a visit to the Walter children on the hill, I stopped at the store to look around. I was inspecting a box of fig bars when the clerk asked me if I wanted it. I nodded my head. He handed it over and asked if there was anything else. In a few moments my arms were full of all kinds of sweets and cookies. I had made a wonderful discovery you could get anything you wanted at the store by just saying, ‘Charge it.’ I shared my goodies with all the children I met and arrived home blissful over my wonderful discovery. I do not remember how Mother went about impressing me that everything in life has to be paid for by someone, sometime, but I am sure she did!” OMS 118.1