This being your
native day: the on which two such
noble spirits came into the world, I feel it my pleasure to write you
my hearty congratulations and greetings
on this so dear to me, anniversary of
your Birth-day. Though thousands of miles
of land water seperate us, for
a cause not to gratify any selfish
desire of my own but to bear glad
tidings to the children of men, my
thoughts wander back to the warm
breath of living Parents and I am
with, ^you^ if not in body yet in spirit.
This is the third time your Birthday
has come and gone; or indeed the fourth
sfoince I met with you for this occasion.
Oh how good it would seem to be
with you tonight! what joy would my
heart feel to spend this quiet evening
in the family circle of Home. Still I
would not complain as God has been
so merciful to ^you^ and spared your
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2.
lives as a comfort to family and People,
therefore my heart swells with praise
rather than complaint to an allmighty
Creator who has allowed me to be-
come the son of two such master-
pieces in the ministry of the Gospel
of our Saviour. All that will make you
more happy and be of comfort to
you is my greatest wish and may
He who has guided your footsteps so
safely through the ruggged paths of
life let His guardian angles watch
over you through the day and guard
your pillow at night, that you may
live many years yet to be in
the future what you have been to
us all in the past.
I look forward with the greatest joy and
hopes that I may be with you to
celebrate your next Birthday. Many
times I wonder how you will have
changed in my absence as I have
been away so long the thoughts of
returning to you and Home seem too
grand to be real; but still I am
contented and happy to think I am
where you want me to be and
when duty calls me; here in a far
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off land batteling with the powers
of darkness and inviting others to
join us in the battle for life
eternal, "for right against wrong."
We must all go through the "school" &
learn to stand for ourselves as you hav
done. You may find I have changed
considerable as I am able to notice it
myself; let that be as it will when the
time comes and school is out; how I
will bother you again at home & make
you wish many times: "I wish that boy
was back on his mission." Well if all
goes well I am coming home to see
you on one of those bright days next
Fall(?) and then if you don't want me
I will stop with you awhile anyway.
Today I have been thinking about you all day,
wondering if Pa is speaking in the Tabernacle. Oh my! how I should like to
hear him and then go home & take
dinner with Ma! Begin to fat up
your "Prodigal" and after he has feasted
about four months the "Calf" may
return. We have been celebrating on
your worthy account in Hannover today
and the good Saints including my
companion Rudolph Gygi send congratulations
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love, and wish you many, many happy
returns of the day. Was so glad to
learn from your last letter of Clara's
improvement as I had an awful dream
in which I thought she had been
called away; suppose it came from over
anxiety as I had been thinking so much
about her & the thoughts of parting with
Clara would almost drive me wild. Ma's do saying "dream of a death & hear
of a wedding." Was indeed surprised to
receive a card of the wedding of W.
S. Woodruff and Fannie M. Carrington,
I do not remember the lady but hope she
will make Will a good wife as I think
a great deal of him. Think that Child
sister should be taken in hand by
some relief society as you should not be
troubled with such things, but of course
you know your own business. Well
dearest Parents I wish you the choicest
that earth can produce and the richest
blessings of God to accompany you
through still many years of health &
active, usefull life here on earth. With love
to yourselves, Clara, (who I hope is now well) and
all the dear ones at home,
Your affectionate son, A. Owen Woodruff