Harper, Walter
“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California
March 9, 1911
Previously unpublished.
Walter Harper
Dear Brother:
Your letter has been received and read. We hope soon to visit Loma Linda, if my health permits. I have not been sick in bed, but have hardly been well enough to travel. Here at home we have a place of refuge. Seldom do we have high winds, but at times we have continuous rain for several days in succession. The recent rains have done great damage in some places, but not where we are living. 25LtMs, Lt 14, 1911, par. 1
We are as favorably situated as we could well hope to be. When I was on the vessel crossing the Pacific, on the way from Australia to America, the angel of the Lord said to me, “I have a refuge for you.” Shortly afterward, my attention was called to the Pratt ranch, just below the sanitarium. We are retired as much as is desirable, being a little off the main road of travel. Carriages are not continually passing by. 25LtMs, Lt 14, 1911, par. 2
This morning my son W. C. White came in to tell me that he was on his way to the Pacific Union College at Angwin. Yesterday Elder Corliss and Brother C. H. Jones came down to our house from the sanitarium where they have been attending the annual meetings. We had a short interview. Today they have both gone up the hill to the school in the mountains. And now I am seated in my room, writing you a few lines. 25LtMs, Lt 14, 1911, par. 3
You are perfectly welcome at our home, when you come. We have been expecting to go to Loma Linda in the near future. W. C. White will accompany us. I may not be able to travel at this season of the year, unless the weather should become more settled. I do not wish to be exposed to the heavy rains while journeying. We read in the papers of fearful rainstorms in San Francisco and adjoining towns. We have had continuous rains, day and night, but no fierce windstorms. 25LtMs, Lt 14, 1911, par. 4
I am not as well as I should like to be, but I am making every effort possible to get matter prepared for publication. I find much to do and will complete the work as soon as possible. Of late, I have been getting a little stronger. We have not had opportunity to ride during the past two weeks because of the rains. Yesterday we had a rest from the rain. Today it is cloudy and is raining a little. When reading of the terrible storm in San Francisco and elsewhere, I felt as if we have reason to rejoice that we are sheltered from these storms. 25LtMs, Lt 14, 1911, par. 5
I shall be much pleased to visit Loma Linda once more, if I am able to stand the journey. I may not dare leave my home. Recently I have been in no condition to travel. I have been taking some treatment at the sanitarium, and I spend all the time that my strength will permit on my writings. I wish so much to bring out some things in print. 25LtMs, Lt 14, 1911, par. 6
I must now stop writing. I hope your father is resting and improving in the Loma Linda Sanitarium, which is so highly favored in many ways. I must now give my attention to other matters. 25LtMs, Lt 14, 1911, par. 7