{The Evangelical Lutheran Seminary of Canada
Waterloo, Ontario}
July 18, 1926.
Dear Mother:
Here I am again back at my old job on Sunday night – writing a letter to you – as though nothing had happened and as though I had not seen you in the interval between this and my last letter. But I cannot tell you the joy and pleasure the happy visit gave me, nor can I thank you and all the family sufficiently for the many favours that I received at your hands. It seems that all of you put yourselves out to the utmost to make my visit delightful. I do not know what more could have been done than you did do. And I think the reunion, embracing every one of the family, on that Sunday, was a most remarkable thing and an evidence of the gracious providence of God toward us all. I was glad to find you at your advanced age in the enjoyment of such excellent health and spirits. It gives zest to the hope that we may have you with us for many years yet to come – our dear old mother, the pride of our lives and the joy of our hearts. God bless you and give you great joy and comfort in all your children and grandchildren!
Marion and I arrived home on Saturday at 3 p.m. We should have been here around noon, but we had a two hours wait at Hamilton to make connection. All the family were overjoyed to receive us and gave us a most hearty welcome and glad reception. The first thing the children wanted to do was to go to the lake for a swim, and as I was feeling more or less dirty from the journey home and desired to escape the necessity
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of taking a bath I went. Little Catharine who had been a great mother-girl during my absence, immediately changed her allegiance and became a father-girl. She said “Father, may I go along with you down to the dam?” and I couldn’t refuse her, so she went; and went this afternoon again. I’m afraid she is going to get the habit and that there will be no going swimming without taking her along. This afternoon she was singing “The School on the hillside is the school for me”, and ventured the information, “I learned that song at Sunday School.” She speaks the best and most correct English of any child I ever saw for her age. We had a fine trip up here from Washington. It was a little warm at the start, but became cooler as we advanced, and Marion found it necessary to put her clothes over her in order to keep warm in the sleeper at night. We made close connection at Buffalo and didn’t get breakfast till we reached Hamilton at 10:30 o’clock. On Wednesday it rained all day in Washington, which, however, didn’t prevent us from seeing the sights. Thursday we went to Mt. Vernon in the forenoon and took a bath in the new swimming pool in the afternoon. All the way up the line they seemed to have had plenty of rain. The change in the atmosphere up this way made me quite sleepy. I slept in the bus half way to Galt and have been sleeping on every occasion since – even taking the Southern Siesta with relish. I put in a pretty busy day to-day. I preached in Bridgeport this morning, and though I had little time for preparation, I preached, I think, very well on the Gospel for the day. This afternoon, I stripped enough Elderberry blossoms to make 10 gals. of wine and now have it ready, as soon as it becomes cool enough, for the yeast cakes. I found my beer intact and have been enjoying it since I came home. The garden is looking well, though not
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quite as clean as it would have been if I had been here to attend to it myself. The corn is looking particularly well and is about ten times as thick as you have it down in the South. It seems so nice and quiet here compared to your place. These are no noisy trains and only an occasional automobile to disturb the serenity of the stillness. You see nearly all the traffic in on the pavement on King St. Bonnie thinks I look well, and I did pick up about 6 lbs. on the trip, weighing 167 lbs. I think it is a good thing I smoked a little on the trip – else I might have come back a regular porker. Marion also gained 3 or 4 lbs. but Bonnie thinks she is more nervous than she was before she left. She had quite a yelling spell last night, also a couple on the train. I hope Cecile came successfully through the operation and that she will soon recuperate and become strong and healthy again. I must close here, as I want to write a note to Bikle yet to-night. I want to thank you again for the pleasure you gave me and, Jennie Lee in particular for putting her Tin Lizzie and acting as my chauffer. She was always ready to go whenever I said the greasy word. She is a good sport. My thanks to Walter also for a certain favour of great importance. With love to you all,
I am
Most Sincerely yours,
[signed] Carroll H. Little.
P.S.
Bonnie was well pleased with the “Teddy Bear” and will write and tank Mabel for it shortly.
CHL
