Waterloo, Ont.,
July 30, 1918.
Dear Mother:
Your kind letter just to hand, and as I did not get to write to you last night, I will proceed to answer it at once. We had a siege of very hot dry weather which almost burnt everything up, during the past 8 or 10 days. Last night, however, we had a thunder-storm with rain, and to-day it is remarkably cool again and everything appears freshened up. Since last Tuesday we have had Mrs. Maurer with us and Sunday evening she was joined by Pastor Maurer. They will be with us the remainder of the week and over Sunday. We enjoy their company, but it is quite expensive during these days of the high cost of everything. We have been invited out quite frequently lately. On Wednesday of last week we spent the day with Pastor Voelker in his home at Preston. On Saturday evening we were invited out to tea at Mr. Baldue’s, Sunday evening at Pastor Bockelmann’s and last evening at Mrs. Krauz’s – all in Waterloo. Sunday I preached in First English, Kitchener. The congregations were rather small, from 75 to 85 present, on account of the extraordinary heat. But
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in the evening I had quite a distinguished congregation with three pastors before me, viz. pastors Maurer, Willison and a Church of England Rector whose name I do not know. I gave them a very timely sermon on Isaiah 9:13. Next Sunday Pastor Maurer will be in charge at First English and I will have a rest in the morning. In the evening, however, I am to preach for Pastor Schmeider in St. Matthew’s, Kitchener. After this I will be engaged regularly at First English until a permanent pastor is secured. It will mean considerable work for me, but also considerable increase in salary which is a valuable consideration. Pastor Zinck wrote me this morning definitely declining the call to become Principal of our College Department. That was a disappointment as he is by all odds the most available man we could have got. However, he is agreed to give instructions two or three days a week if his services are required. The Board will meet to-morrow. They will probably extend a call to Rev. Willison of Unionville who will doubtless accept. He is not nearly so good or so likable a man as Pastor Zinck, but I suppose will do in the absence of anything better. I think they will also call for Pastor Zinck’s services and we will be able to wiggle through in some shape or other during the next year. I hope that after that times will be more settled and the outlook for our institution better.
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I was sorry to hear that you are still without a pastor. It should be a lesson to the knockers not to let a good man go so easily again. President Maurer has written Pastor Murray to secure his presence at their Seminary Rally at Riverside, Aug. 28. If he comes I will see him there as I am to be present and make an address. Thanks for your information in re of canning. Bonnie canned several jars of beans boiling two hours with the one processing. On account of the company she has had she didn’t get any done last week and now the beans are too hard. However, she is to-day picking some raspberries to can. We have prospect of abundance of corn and hope to have some of that to can. We had our first ripe to-matoes Sunday and expect soon to have them in great plenty. The sugar peas are also too hard for canning, but we can use them in other ways. I dug some potatoes the other day and they were of good size and fine. We have had lots of carrots for the table and expect to have some of them to store away for winter use. We have also had a few cucumbers. All the other vegetables are looking fine and give prospects of a good crop. I hope you will have a good time at your reunion. We would like very much to be present, but it is altogether out of the question. I don’t think any of us
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will cross over into the States until the war is over, which, I am afraid, notwithstanding present successes, will be a long time. Mr. Pegram and his boys must be quite patriotic. I suppose it is quite a relief to Blanche, no longer to have his boys around. Is Aunt Claudia still living in the house with her? Yes, tomorrow is Robert’s birth-day. He is a very active little fellow. I have had to run down street twice to-day to bring him home. Our fence is somewhat dilapidated and he escapes through the fence when the gate is not left open. He doesn’t talk very much except in single words, but he is a bright and lovable little chap for all that. I bought Carolus and Herman bathing suits last week and they go swimming in the lake in the park every day. But I must close. With best love to you all,
I am
Most Sincerely yours,
[signed] Carroll H. Little.
