{Lutheran Theological Seminary and Waterloo College Waterloo, Ont.,} Jan’y 27, 1924.
Dear Mother:
Please accept thanks for the books, the “Ante Nicene Fathers”, which reached me OK last week. I succeeded in getting them through free of duty, and the only cost to me was the express, which amounted to $2.43. The books are in fine condition and I appreciate them very much. It would have been impossible to get them, even second hand for less than $50, and that I could never have afforded. I may sometime want the Nicene and the Post Nicene Fathers, though as far as I know they are not now on the Chicago Seminary course, while those that you sent are. The possession of the books you sent will not only profit me personally but will also enable me to repay to some extent Prof. Zinck from whom I have borrowed many books. I would have been much further along with the course than I am if I had been able to buy the books required. I had to use such books as I could lay my hands on, and those were not very many until I began to borrow from Prof. Zinck. As he has no family he has been able to buy the books as needed, and consequently is much nearer the completion of the course than I am. I hope, however, to have it more than half done by vacation time next summer. I had a nice letter from Bikle some time ago in which he said I ought to plan on coming over on a vacation
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next summer again. But that I can’t do, both for financial and other reasons. If any of us is to get a vacation, I want Bonnie to have it this year. She needs it much more than I do. The weary monotony of domestic life is wearing on her, and I am anxious that in some way she should have a change. As for myself I can extract pleasure out of the home, the environment and little things, such as games, swimming, fishing and the like, while for her life seems to be but a ceaseless grind. I don’t know how I will be able to finance a vacation for her, but I will do it if it is at all possible. She has a hard row of it and it is rather trying on her nerves. I don’t know where she would go however, as she would never go anywhere without an invitation and she is not apt to get one from her ex-step mother and her sister Meda is a rather uncertain quantity. She has friends at Morrisburg who would be glad to have her, but she doesn’t care to go there. So I don’t know what will be done. If the Morrisburg parish is still vacant next summer I might supply it for the three months of vacation, and take the family down, which would be a change for us all. But that is problematical. I haven’t had any preaching to do this year and am booked for only two sermons – both however gratis – for Dr. Maurer during Lent. Profs. Zinck, Willison, Hirtle and myself are all helping him out in this way this winter. My finances are down at a low ebb again. I haven’t a cent of money at present, but have about 15₵ worth of postage stamps. However, pay-day will come around again the last of this week, which will fix me up again for a time. Last year I made considerable extra on preaching, which I am missing this year owing to all our near vacancies being filled. However, I don’t allow either money or the
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lack of it to worry me. We are having it very cold again. Yesterday was a “corker” and it is very little better to-day, although the wind is not so high. I think last night was the coldest night we had all winter though I do not know what the thermometer registered. At our cold spell a week ago the lowest register was 16° below zero. We have considerable snow and it is piled up in great drifts up here on the hill. The streets and sidewalks look like great railway cuts. The boys have a fine large rink back of the Seminary now, and my boys, Marion and I get out every once in a while for a skate. It is much more convenient than going down to the park. We did nearly all of our teaching last week in the new building and enjoyed the fine new roomy rooms. We will not have the formal opening, however, till Feb’y 8, owing to the lighting system not being ready yet. I was down at Church this morning. Pastor Roberts preached a very good sermon on the Gospel for the day. He is, as I have said, good on practical sermons. I forgot last week to enclose Mr. Jannau’s “Mad Years”. I will try to put it in this time. Our neighbour Mr. Rumball had the misfortune to lose a child at birth last night. He took it to the Cemetery himself and buried it this morning. This is the same family that lost the boy with black diphtheria (so called) in the fall. He is a laborer and they are poor, but are very good neighbours. Our little Catharine is very interesting now. She plays with dolls, pats cakes and does a lot of stunning stunts. But I must close. With love and all good wishes, I am
Most Sincerely yours, [signed] Carroll H. Little.
