Olive Smoot Bean, Correspondence, 1883

File — Box: 1, Folder: 24

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August 6, 1883-Manassa, Colorado
My own true loving wife
"...And now a word or two in regard to our darling babes. God bless them and keep them safe from every ill! Our happiness lies in their being rightly trained and started in life; so let me implore you to not be a slave to the whims of your children...but teach them kindly yet firmly that your word is law: be cautious how you make them promises...be careful not to deceive them...because any of these things are quickly imitated by the ever vigilant intellects of prattling babes.... always remembering that whatsoever we sow we will reap....vigilance and perseverance in the observance of these things, will spare us many a cup of bitter sorrow, and bring us a sure reward of happiness....Tell Polly, although I do not hear from her often, I always consider her among my treasures at home, and look forward with a joyous hope, when I can realize in deed and truth she is one of our little household; but it may be that I am anticipating too much."
August 17, 1883-Ephraim, Colorado
Ever faithful and beloved wife
"...I have had no word from you since yours of the 28th July, and you can fully realize that I naturally get a little anxious when I go three weeks without hearing from you; but you spoke in your last about being so busy that you had no time to write: of course I wonder what you are doing and whether you have taken a big contract of sewing, keeping a boarding house, or gone to farming, in order to get rich before I get home(?)"
August 18, 1883-Provo City, Utah
My own true loving Will
"...You hear from Pollie as often as I do for I very seldom see her any more. She was at meeting two weeks ago tomorrow and took Nina home to dinner with her and brought her back at Sunday School time. I haven't seen her since....Pa and Ma were going [to a wedding] but Ma wasnt so well again yesterday so she gave it up. She is very feeble and so childish it is impossible to do anything to suit her. I keep out of her way when I am there as much as possible, for mother puts up with so much from her that I can hardly treat her respectfully."
August 27, 1883-Manassa, Colorado
My own true and loving Olive
"...You must not feel hard at Ma Smoot, but consider her age, her affliction, and childishness, and do her all the good you can, always remembering that we are liable to the same afflictions and errors: for love and charity covers many annoyances; and your Mother-God bless her-must consider these things...."
August 29, 1883-Provo City, Utah
My own faithful husband
"...I am sorry to say I cannot report all as well as I could wish. Our baby has been ailing now more than a week. She had the Diarrhea and vomiting three days last week until she is reduced nearly one half in flesh....she is so fretful that I hardly get her out of my arms some days and I have had only one good nights rest in three weeks. So you will find excuses for me if I dont write often.... Oh! Will, my own dear true husband you cannot realize how, impatient I get some times for the blessed privilege of enjoying your society once more. And I long for your protection; night after night I stay here alone and suffer with fear; The town here has been fairly infested with tramps the last few weeks, and you can guess my sleep is not very refreshing. You would not believe what a nervous creature I have got to be."
September 11, 1883-Manassa, Colorado
My loving darling wife
"...I am sorry to learn that you still suffer so much from fear and anxiety of nights, and that you do not get some one to stay with you: but if you can not, it should be all right any way, for you should endeavor to bring your mind in subjection to the mind and will of God, that when you bow down before Him at night and ask Him for His protection, you should lay down, in quiet sleep and trust all to Him...."

Dates

1883

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