Here we are in Washington. . . . I was very weary when I took the cars. For a day or two I was quite sick; preparing for my journey had been a heavy strain upon me. I kept in my berth all the way over, sitting up in the other seats only for half an hour once or twice.
In the car, we all seemed very much like one family. Although at times there were between thirty and forty people in the car, there was no noise, no loud talking, no card-playing. All seemed like acquaintances, each interested in the other. The passengers showed me much kindness.
The conductor of our car was a quiet, nice-looking man. He seemed to understand his business well. At one station a man bought some beer at a saloon, and put it in a cupboard at the end of the car. The conductor heard of this, and promptly ordered the beer taken out, saying that he would allow no such thing on the car. During all the time we were on the train, I did not get one whiff of tobacco, excepting once or twice, when someone passed through the car with a lighted cigar in his hand. . . .
We had many pleasant interviews with the passengers. As I talked with them, I felt an earnest desire to meet them again sometime. . . .
When we were nearing Washington, and were preparing to leave the car, the conductor went round to every seat, and with a kindly handclasp bade the passengers goodbye. This was something I had never before seen done. We shook hands with many of our fellow-travelers as we parted. All expressed good wishes for one another. We seemed like old friends saying goodbye.
We spent Sunday morning packing up our belongings and getting ready to leave the car. Our numerous bags and satchels were piled up in one seat, and when the train drew into the station, Clarence passed them through the open window to Willie, who put them on a truck. As they were doing this, Elder Daniells came up, and we went with him out through the station to the carriage. The carriage is an easy, two-seated surrey, with a canopy top. The horse is a large, noble-looking animal, very gentle, and perfectly safe. I feel greatly favored in having the use of this horse and carriage.
We drove directly from the station to the house which has been rented for us in Takoma Park. This is a three-story building standing in about ten acres of land, and is built on the highest rise of ground near here. Five hundred feet below and six miles away is the city of Washington, reached either by the streetcar or the train. The house is very comfortable. I have a room nearly as large as my room at home.--Letter 141, 1904, pp. 1-7. (To Edson and Emma White, April 27, 1904.)
We had a very pleasant trip from San Francisco to Washington. Several times a song-service was held in the car, and this took well. Many of the passengers outside of our party united in the singing.--Letter 139, 1905, p. 1. (To Elder J. A. Burden, May 14, 1905.)
I have spoken several times since coming here. Last Sabbath the Lord gave me strength to speak to a congregation of over a thousand in the large tent. All seemed astonished to see that my voice was strong enough to reach all in the large tent and even those standing on the outside. Since coming here, . . . my health has been quite good. I am glad that I came. All seem surprised that I can step around as spry as I do. . . .
Our party has four rooms in the west end of the boys' dormitory, on the first floor. . . . The dormitory is an excellent building. Everything about it is strong and firm. Thorough work has been done in its construction. . . .
We go out riding nearly every day in a nice, easy carriage. Everything possible has been done to make me comfortable. . . .
We have had beautiful singing at the meetings and several different kinds of musical instruments have produced the sweetest sounds. . . .
During the first part of the meeting there was some rain, but for days the weather has been very fine though not hot. . . .
Mabel, remember that Jesus is your helper. He loves you, and will be your sympathizing friend. If we think of His goodness talk of His power, the result will be that we shall be changed into His image. We try to do as Christ would do and as we follow His way, we become meek and lowly.
I love Jesus because He first loved me. We all need to keep our eyes fixed on Christ, and to follow in His footsteps, doing our best, and remembering that we are thus being prepared for the mansions that He has gone to prepare for those who love Him as their best friend and counselor.
Let us be determined to be a light to those around us, revealing Christ in character.
My dear child, have courage in the Lord. Pray, and believe, and trust in your Saviour, and He will be your joy and crown of rejoicing.--Letter 147, 1905, 1905, pp. 1-5. (To "My Dear Child Mabel [White]", May 24, 1905.)
My dear daughter May Lacey White, and (Grandchildren) Henry, Herbert, and Gracie: We are pleasantly situated here, but I am longing for home. I do so much want to see you all. Your father has worked very hard, and he
wants to go home as much as you want him to come. But the future of the work here demanded our staying for a while. We could not have gone home earlier. . . .
When we reached the Paradise Valley we found the workmen busy digging a well on the lower part of the land. This work has gone forward successfully, without accident of any kind, and I am very glad to be able to tell you that a good supply of soft, pure water has been found. The workmen went down ninety feet, and one morning when they went to work, they found eighteen feet of water in the well, with all their tools at the bottom. That morning Brother Palmer and your father came to my room, their faces lighted up with smiles, to tell me about the water in the well. Oh, I wish you could have seen the joy on their faces.
To get the water out of the well was the problem now. The workmen set the pumping engine going at once, but they found that this lowered the water very slowly. So they sent for a larger cylinder and a larger pipe, and finally they got the water pumped out. . . .
There is already one patient in the Paradise Sanitarium. She seems to be a very nice woman. Other patients are waiting, and will come as soon as the building is ready. The night before we left, Sara said to me, "Two more patients came this evening." "Where will they put them?" I asked. "In the barn, I guess," was her answer. Then she explained that these patients were the two cows that someone had given to the sanitarium. The cows were brought overland in a large wagon drawn by four horses. . . .
Children, be helpful to your mother. Obey her word promptly, and the Lord will bless you. God said, "I know Abraham, that he will"-- coax? --no;--"that he will command his children and his household after him, and they
will keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment." Should your father and mother allow you to do wrong things, without correcting you, they would displease God. God wants you, Henry and Herbert, to behave like little gentlemen. When you speak kind words and do right deeds, you are forming characters that God can approve. He will be pleased to call you the lambs of His flock, and He will bless you.
The angels of heaven are guarding and guiding you constantly, always keeping you from harm and danger. I pray that your words and acts may be such that God can look upon them with approval. Dear children, do not allow yourselves to do one wrong act. Your father and mother love you, but they can not love wrong- doing. They are made very sorry when you do wrong. Will you not try to remember this? Will you not try to overcome all your faults, because you love Jesus, who gave His life for you? . . .
Your father and mother are trying to bring you up to be unselfish, truthful, kind, tenderhearted. They want to help you to prepare for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for you. He has promised to come again and take you to Himself, that where He is, there you may be also. Then put away every fault, and prepare yourselves to be received into the heavenly home, where you will be happy forever and ever.--Letter 319, 1904, pp. 3-6. (To May Lacey White and children, Dec. 4, 1904.)
I will tell you what I saw in the street coming to this place. A boy was abusing a dog. He was a small boy, but I thought, That child is educating himself in cruelty. I thought how my heart would ache if one of you should do as he was doing. I passed along another street and a well-dressed man, who appeared like a gentleman, was driving a fine horse. The
wind blew a piece of paper under the horse's feet and he started and jumped to one side. That was all, but the man who appeared to be a gentleman whipped the horse cruelly. He was not satisfied with this. He became more and more excited until he was worked up into a rage. He jumped from the carriage and seized the bit and jerked the horse's head back and then kicked the horse several times with his heavy boot. I thought probably that man began his acts of cruelty as did the little boy--upon small animals. He acted the tyrant over God's helpless creatures until the temper and spirit were educated to cruelty. That man could not be a patient, kind, affectionate father. He was cultivating traits of character which would cause others sorrow and make himself miserable.