Walter expresses what is often on the minds of others when, in his (2/5) letter he writes, “one question that dwells on my mind a great deal. That is the one of money.” A couple of months later, when he loses money on his cattle, he feels it is “the work of the devil which makes us want to see results ... and then makes us discouraged when we do not see them” (4/6). This is one of many ways he seeks freedom, not from work, but from money.
(2/5 8) “The heavens declare the glory of God: And the firmament showeth his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1 It has always seemed very strange to me that anyone could walk upon this wonderful earth and not recognize this truth but, rather, deny God and His creation. I have known times, when, in order to justify my own convictions, I have tried to recognize the theory of evolution, but it just will not work. Only one, with an unlimited resource of power, could create this world and the surroundings and then keep the whole thing in order, year after year. Indeed, the heavens do declare the glory of God. . . . No, I have not read Babbitt by [Sinclair] Lewis, at least not all of it. I have read Main Street quite thoroughly and also scanned through Arrowsmith quite well. I do not care much for his writings, especially his viewpoints. They are not the viewpoints of a Christian.… I do not believe his works are nearly as popular as they were a few years ago. We should thank God that many of the writings of our most popular modern authors point to a much better moral outlook, for instance:
Magnificent Obsession
Green Light by Lloyd C. Douglas
A Lantern in Her Hand
A White Bird Flying by Bess Streeter Aldrich
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie…
The cattle price does not look good, and it is hard for me to pray for God’s will to be done and not my own desires. Though there are so many things that I want to get and need money for, I shall try to leave it all in the hands of Him who knows what is best. I am asking Him to help me in this. … Here is one question that dwells on my mind a great deal. That is the one of money. If we trust entirely upon God, who has been so gracious unto us, we may never have much money, altho I am sure He will provide plenty for us. … Were money to be my goal in life and my great desire, I know that by pursuing the right course I could amass a fortune, but that does not seem right to me. Does it to you? Now I want to provide for you, to make you comfortable and happy, but I am going to take God at His word, and He has said, “But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
(2/7 14) Good morning, Margaret, How are you this morning, and is Helen strong enough to go to school this morning? I plan to wash the woodwork and scrub the floor in the kitchen today. I plan to use only the two south rooms, the kitchen, bedroom, pantry, and clothes closet. We did not finish cleaning the kitchen Sat., so I will do that today. But I want to get this letter off to the dearest girl in all the world, to me. … As I was looking for suitable songs for S. S. (Sunday School) last Thurs. eve., I came upon this song and copied a verse to send to you. I forgot to copy the no. of the song, but I am sure you know it. I like it very much. Watch and pray, my soul, / Flesh and blood control; / When the world in tempting story, / Tells of pleasure, wealth and glory, / Watch, my soul, and pray.… Wed nite I am going to the midweek service and to the rifle shoot afterwards. I plan to finish with the rifle club this year and drop it after it is over sometime in March. You could not go with me, and there are so many things which we can go to and do together. Since I cannot do as most men do, call on their girls and take them with them, at least once a week I will have to do my courting after we are married.
(4/3 273) Dear Margaret: “Simon, Simon, behold Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat; but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou when once thou hast turned again establish thy brethren.” Luke 22:31,32. … Margaret, I was a little blue when I came over to my place to write to you. But … I really have nothing to complain about. Tho I lost some money in my farming & feeding, others have lost much more. Some sheep feeders lose 2 to 3 thousand dollars. So I have much to be thankful for. Nevertheless, when I think of how I promised that I might be able to help buy a flute for you (by the way, it is an old instrument. Matt. 9) and painted other rosy pictures, it kind of makes me feel bad. But I have asked God to guide and lead me, and if it does not go in the way I think it should, it is because I am not what I should be or it would not be for the best. Ordinarily I should have had 5 to 6 hundred dollars left over. That with only fair crops and prices. As it is now, when I pay my bills, including Mother, I will not have much left. Of course I would not have to pay Mother, but she deserves it and has earned it. I would not feel right not to do so. Besides, I will have my horses and machinery with a little money to go on, in the clear. Margaret, I have always said that I was going to wait and get married until I had plenty of money. But it seems that all things do not go as we plan.
(4/6 288) “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials.” I Peter 1: 6. … This Chap contains not only wonderful promises, but much admonition, which if practiced will be much help and benefit to us. But I like that part which says “If need be,” “If we can take the Bible literally and that must be the only way to take it, or how else can the ordinary class of people who have no time to study the Heb. & Greek languages, ever understand it. These words seem to indicate to me that it might be necessary for us to be put to grief in order that we might Glorify the Father and the Name of Jesus. What do you think? … It is a human weakness to want to see results so that we may glory in them. This is truer of each of us than we want to confess or than we ever know. I wanted the cattle and potatoes to bring me 5 or 6 hundred dollars. Then I would have thot that God surely means this so that Margaret and I can be married right away. This would be not so much my glorying as perhaps—yes, I must confess it—a keen desire to have you with me and near me. To hold you in my arms. … So again: Margaret, I ask you to pray for me. In my mind it is the work of the devil which makes us want to see results, makes us want to do great things, and then makes us discouraged when we do not see them. … This afternoon I go to town to have my picture taken. That will give me time to get it and the ring to you for Easter. I do wish I might see you. But I assure you that with that ring comes a deep and true love and, though I confess, a deep desire for you, it is God given, and I ask Him to control it, so that my love may be a true and lasting love of God for you. That it was and is I knew long ago. For such a fine Christian friend, I thank Him.
(4/19 372) I have wondered and thot often about whether or not any fault in another, which we readily see and often criticize, is so much an overabundance of that fault in them, or is it a lack of love on our part which leaves us unable to see anything but the fault in them? God created each and every one of us, and I doubt that he failed to keep the proper balance of all things when he did so.… I doubt that we would criticize so much, even 1/10 as much, if we in love would come to God in prayer, for the one with whom we differed and for ourselves. Am I right on this?
(4/23 382) Walter, I wish that I possessed more love for my fellowmen. I believe, too, if each one of us possessed more love we would criticize less severely. “Love covereth a multitude of sins.” I know one thing: that when I am helping a pupil, if I pray that God will give me more love for him, the pupil seems to grasp the information much more easily, and I feel more satisfied.
