Soulmates Abiding

(5/13) My dear Walter, … Your last letter just made me long to write to you this morning even though it is as early as 4:45. I haven’t had my pen to write with and I dislike to borrow someone else’s pen because pens are easily bent in the point just by the different pressure exerted on them. I typed a page to you and then it just hurt inside of me because I have so often read “Do not send a typewritten letter to a friend” so I finally stopped writing and put the page into the waste basket after having torn it to pieces. Now, Walter, I am going to send you some letters even though they will sometimes have to be very short. I do love to write and oh, how I do love to get your letters. I get such a longing to see and be with [you] that a letter helps me to wait until the time comes and it makes me feel that you are near when I read it. May God bless our letter-writing to one another.

(5/15) My Dear Margaret, … I met you and was truly at peace a few moments ago during our mutual prayer hour. It is almost as good as seeing you. But even so, you cannot know how I miss you. This will arrive late! Sometimes it takes your letters 3 or 4 days to get here. Does it take mine so long? It will carry a little gift to you. The dearest person in all the world to me. I shopped and thot and thot and finally decided to send you money. Use it as you wish, for something you want or need in any way. It is a small gift and no measure of what you mean to me. There is no such measure regardless of how large.

(5/17) Thank you for the letters. They are helpful and do help me. They encourage and inspire me and help me to carry on each day until the day comes when I can speak to you face to face. Maybe I won’t have much to talk about at times and I will only want my darling, near to me for the comradeship which no one else can give. As I think of it and look back to when I first spoke to you alone, I cannot remember a single time when it was hard to speak to you. It has always been easy and natural. … I want to say now; that if it is easier for you to type letters, then type them. That will certainly be alright with me. I wish I might help you more than that. When we are united in marriage may we always strive to be a mutual help to one another and then our love will grow and not diminish with the years. Only write as you have time. Tho they mean so much to me yet I love you much more than them and as I know you are working very hard now, I shall try to get along without them. And they need not be long. … Margaret you need not worry about either buying or bringing any furniture. I am sure I shall be able to provide that. This money question need not worry us at all. I am not going to worry about it any more. Our needs will be adequately cared for. I shall work and take every possible care of all my crops and then take what I receive.

(5/20) “Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31,32. To be able to do all these is my desire and goal. This is one of the reasons that I am so glad that you are a Christian girl, for I know that you to[o], have this as your goal. I am not so much an idealist, as not so much to realize that I will fall far short of this wonderful ideal, or that you too cannot fulfil it entirely. Nevertheless; to have this in common will be a great help to each of us. I am determined that we shall take any little differences that may arise between us, to God. We will do this, not separately only, but together and all this from the very first. I can safely say; that I am determined, because I know this to be your wish also. I could not do this, if you were not a Christian and you could not, if I were not. It is thru this fact, that I know how much you love me and long for the day when we may be together always. It is absolutely impossible for me to put any measure of my love upon this paper and I truly know, and honestly I have not one slight doubt, that your love is fully as great or greater. Seeing your concern for your fellowmen, a few times, makes me think that your love is greater than mine. May God increase my love, to make it worthy of the girl, that he made it possible for me to have.

(6/12) My dear Walter, … I am sure you have been very busy or else you haven’t known my whereabouts or else you are sick. I haven’t heard from you for a long time or maybe I am just impatient so the time seems long. I know it isn’t easy to write if you’re tired and weary but I do think it fun to receive letters.

(6/14) Again I must go, but this morning I asked God to show me the proper use of my time and as he wills it, I shall write. … Perhaps it is not right for me to spend so much of my time working at the things of this world, I mean so many hours at farming. If I had more faith, perhaps it would all go just as well. What do you think. Of course it is this way only for a few weeks at this time of the year.

(6/19) We love, because he first loved us. I John, 4:19. Margaret, this little sentence certainly explains something that I knew but could not put into words, that is; your love for me. Indeed no love, nor any marriage union could be anything like it should be if it were not true. I hope and pray that our union and our home may always be proof of our Saviours grace. Within me there is an intense longing for that home and little helpmate, whom I know is hoping and praying for our home and me even now.

(6/26) When will you be back to Minn? I have received no answer to my proposition, but I suppose that is because the letter was addressed to Minn. This house would need a little work on it and I think it would be nice if you could come out here and suggest how you would like it. I have not spoken to [the] Browns but I believe they would be willing at least to buy paint, paper and kalsomine. We seldom have water any later than the 2nd week in Sept. The fall work will begin the first days in Oct. so if we are to be married in Sept it would be best to set the date somewhere around the 18th. Even so, it would be far better if we could have the house ready for us even to the extent that we could buy the furniture and decide where we would have it. … May we recognize; and I ask your help in doing so; that all things are God’s and that we are his stewards, put here to care for and increase all that he puts us in charge of. I am praying for the Grace and will power to tithe from our very beginning. To give generously to the cause of his kingdom and to spend carefully for our necessities and nothing on foolishness or needless things. I love you very dearly. I feel a little lonely for you this Sunday afternoon and sincerely hope that it be God’s will that we be united soon and need never be apart for a very long time. I received your cards and thank you for them, yet I hope that I receive a letter soon.

(7/4) Walter, you were wondering if I were ill. I have been well on the entire trip but there has been so much to do and when one has been travelling the whole day and get gotten to retire at 11:30 and get to sleep only until 6:30 one cannot write letters. I didn’t get your letters until I returned to Jamestown and then I received one this morning. I never knew where I would be and therefore I couldn’t give you any other address than to Olanders. I surely thank you for the invitation to your place. Won’t it be fun to be together in our future home? It will be fun to be together looking for furniture and to pick out wallpaper. … The trip was interesting. We didn’t stay as long as we had planned. I did get to see quite a few unusual things. When I see you maybe I will tell you of them but they will keep until we are settled in our home. Some winter night after a day’s work I can tell of them. You mentioned that you thought sometime in September would be a good time for the wedding. You’re busy the first part of the month. I think you have been awfully busy and by the way your letters sound you have been waiting for letters. I maybe should have stayed at home but I know you are glad that I could take a trip. Walter, when do you want me to come? It won’t take me long to get ready.

(7/5) Dear Walter, “Delight thyself also in the Lord: / And He shall give thee the desires / Of thine Heart.” Ps. 37:4 The above verse, I know, has been and is very precious to you and to me. This morning I awakened at 4:00 o’clock. I just kept thinking about you until I finally got up to pray about you and about our future. Then I just became so happy in the realization that you love me and that you are an answer to prayer that I just couldn’t resist writing to you again altho I sent you a letter yesterday. … Walter, I am so glad that you are well so that you can enjoy working. … May God give you strength to continue and may I help so that you may not be hindered in any way by my being with you. May God lead both of us so that the kingdom may come by us also as we pray in one of Luther’s petitions of the Lord’s prayer.

(7/08) Margaret, I certainly was glad to receive your letter and to hear that you are well and have enjoyed your trip. I am certainly glad you could go and I am sorry if I in any way caused you to cut your trip short. True I was anxious for a letter. I would like to get one every day, but I know that is not necessary and no more possible than it would be for me to write that often. It will be fun to have you come out and so much fun to plan with and for you. May our prayer be, that it all be unto the Glory of God and his kingdom. … I shall send a ticket immediately, which will make it possible for you to come at your most convenient time. If you could take at least two weeks, … It would be nice if you could stay longer and we would have time to take a few short trips to the mts. But this you will have to decide. I believe we can get much done in two wks. Decide how the house should be decorated … and furnished. … I just thot of something, I want you to remember. Whatever we do, I hope we can and will discuss it and plan it together and I know we can and will do this; but the house is your workshop, where you necessarily have to spend most of your time, therefore; as much as possible and means will allow, we want it as you want it. That is the way I want it and will like it. It is pleasant to think of planning and working with you, but it will be such fun when my Margaret is really and truly right here. I can’t help it. I must say it. You’re the nicest sweetest person in the world and I hope that I will not be a disappointment to you. But I do not fear this much, because I know that in Christ, you have the power to overlook much and I too shall always come to him for help and direction. This is our greatest duty and obligation and it will always be our greatest source of happiness and peace. May we always be found faithful.

(7/9) Walter, I am so glad that you mentioned that you wondered where we would be spending our vacation next year. I was of the opinion that one seldom gets a vacation when living on a farm. It will be fun to plan a trip. I can hardly wait to see and be with you. I pray for our future and it seems the more I pray the more I long for you. May God grant that we may always come to His throne of grace and then we need not fear that our love will grow cold. I believe that He is the One who keeps the homes of Christians warm with love, don’t you?

(7/12) My Dear Margaret: … In answer to a statement & question in your last letter, I must say; that I certainly do believe that it is God, who keeps any love warm. The source of love is not from within us, but from God. If we stray too far from that Holy fire we soon become cold. Tho I have never known the family Altar at my home, I am determined that you and I shall begin that practice from the very first day. I could can only do this if you too, are determined to do the same thing. Therefore I thank God for the knowledge that, this is your desire. I know it is. I am convinced that if we omit this at all that we are building upon sands that are ever shifting. I am glad, because I have the knowlege that you pray for me, for us and for ours. It greatly strengthens me. … I am sending 25 dollars, which will cover most of the traveling expenses to Colorado. When you come I will pay any additional expenses. This only gets a 1 way ticket but I still plan to take you back, God willing. … Our plans are not always the best so circumstances come up that make it impossible to follow them. This must be God’s hard working dont you think so? Right now I have a horse that has sleeping sickness. It is a serious sickness in horses and quite often fatal. I hope I do not lose him but if I do I am asking grace to accept it as I should.

(7/19) My Dearest Margaret: … The time you mentioned in which you planned to leave for Colorado is probably as good as any. It looks now as tho it will be a busy time for me so I would rather see you postpone it for a week in order that I might have more time with you. On the farm, (I guess that’s true in anything), you have to do some of these things as they come up. Perhaps the next week will also present plenty to do but as a rule our busy season ends after the threshing and 2nd cutting of hay is up. But whatever time you come will be alright, perhaps it would be fun and just as well to see farm life as it is. I like the hurry and the work. So whenever you feel it is right and God’s will, then come. I am anxious to see you as soon as possible and hope and pray that the visit will be interesting and enjoyable. … P.S. I’ll put in one clear sentence at least. Whatever time you come will be the right time.

(7/19) I am so happy tonight so I decided to share it with you even tho I haven’t any ink to write with. I plan to buy a bottle of ink tomorrow morning. … I wrote a letter to Evodia telling about our plans of being together for about two weeks. Walter, let’s not spend much money on furniture. We can get along with less than to get deep into debt. I do hope that your remaining horses will keep healthy and that your crops will yield bountifully and that you will receive a good remuneration for your work and all that goes with it.

(7/24) I am so sorry that you must suffer some pain now, as well as the anguish of being unable to be about and carry out your plans and work. But one thing I want to assure you. Tho I long to see you, it does not bother me in the least that you could not come. I am afraid that you might think I would not understand and be too disappointed. Please do not worry at all. I do understand and I think that you used excellent judgement in doing as you did. It is a very good idea to nip these troubles in the bud so to speak. …  I am so glad that you would rather get along with a little, than go deeply in debt, just to have a lot of new furniture and equipment. As I said before, I always hoped to have some means when I got married, but I think love is by far the most important; especially love with Christ for the foundation. It seems that God did not intend for me to get these means. Perhaps; so that we might strengthen our faith and launch out on him. Today I would rather have you by my side, and we together in Christ than anything or everything else on earth.… Now may he who starts the wind, rolls the clouds, stills the waves, creates new life and keeps the old, all to his glory; make you well soon, as well as keep you and bless you unto a life of service in his kingdom. Then when he wills it, may I too work by your side in this glorious service.

(7/25) 5:53 a.m. Wed. Good morning Margaret: I wonder how my little lady’s foot is this morning. Has it bothered you much or kept you from sleeping? I am still hoping that it will be mended and strong again soon so that you can come to Colorado in the near future. I would like to be told to do this or that with this ceiling and walls or that woodwork, by the Dearest Person in all the world.… Mr. Brown has been sober for a long time so I wish you could meet him at such a time. Tho he is not a Christian, in fact does not believe in anything that he cannot see or feel, yet he is a nice man.

(7/27) Thanks for the letter and candy. Walter they made me lonesome for you. I wish you were here to share the candy and I could sit in your lap meanwhile with my one foot that is still under special care on the bed. I have tried being on my foot for a short while during the day but I have to [go] back to bed because my foot begins to swell a little. I guess the doctor is right about the time to recovery.

(8/16) My Dearest Margaret: I did not know that I should miss you so much. Even tho I am busy yet I cannot keep away that lonely feeling. Did you have a nice trip and arrive home safely? I hope you are well as you go to work on the wedding plans. I am certainly glad that it will only be 32 days until we are united in marriage as well as in Christ. … I am quite sleepy. I had to be with the water a great deal last nite and since I had so little sleep the nite before I need to get to bed. I can only cut beans in the mornings while the dew is on so I must arise at 4 and get going while I do. I am sending the window dimensions.

(8/28) I came home a few moments ago from the water, in the hope that I would receive a letter from you and I did. It is so good to receive your letters. When a period of over a day elapses I begin to long for them and for you. … About the wedding date, I would say, set it at the day you like best. There are two reasons why I think the 18th is a good time at least not much later. One is I want to see you as soon as possible and 2nd, if we wait until the 25th we will have to hurry home, if we are to straighten up before we start the potato and beet harvest which will begin the 3 or 4th of Oct. … The more I think of the question concerning the date of the wedding, the more I think it should be the 18th. The harvest time comes in rapidly and I doubt that the folks could come much later. As for morning or evening that would not matter and I certainly think we should change the plans so that Phillip could be there. With a simple wedding it should not take much preparation.

(9/7) But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love. I Cor. 13:13. Good morning Margaret, may God’s rich blessing be upon you at all times and may he make our love, to grow more and more, for each other, for our fellowmen and for Christ: Even as he has nurtured it thus far, for I love you to the point that it almost hurts especially when you are so far away. … There need not be a great deal of preparation and I shall probably be up there for Fri & Sat. to enable us to do some of the necessary things. … My darling; I long so, to see you, to speak to you and to hold [you] close. I did not know that love was that way. I miss my folks when I am away, but it seems that a part of me is gone when you are away. But it will only be a few days until we will be together. Let us not forget to pray much about our future. Our planning, our house and God willing our children and our mating, especially the first night. You expressed a concern about it, when you were here and I too am concerned and rightfully we should, tho I am not worried and we need not be if we ask Gods help, which we certainly shall. We shall spend much of that first night in prayer together. In a fair effort to learn as much as possible; to know all I should, I went to Reuben and asked his advice and counsel and he said that we already had the greatest requirement, Christian love. I thot that, the most important all along.

(9/10) Good morning Margaret. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin. Rom 4;8. It is raining gently here this morning and it is very beautiful. I am very contented and very happy this morning, after our prayer hour. I know that you too are. Next Sunday we will have it together. It will be a busy day and we will need God’s strength to carry us through it. But he is always able to supply.



(9/10) My dearest Walter, “Fear not little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (emphasis in original). … Walter, I am glad that you do miss me. I am glad that we will soon be together. May God bring us more closely in love to one another. I feel that I do love you and I am assured that this love will grow deeper and stronger each day. I long for you and the time when we will be in our own home. May God grant us to earn our daily bread thru the strength and wisdom that He alone can supply. May He grant to us children who may live Christian lives and bring others to His fold. I am so glad that God has revealed to me that you are the one whom God has always intended for me. May we work in His kingdom on earth and do our work because He gives us strength and then when our summons comes [may we] be taken up to be with Him forever.