1917 Mar 4 - Leaving Burlington

[Written in red marker-pencil at the top of the page: "Leaving Burlington, Ver."]

Mar 4 1917 Sunday

Today is fast Sunday & believe me I am sure glad I had a big supper last night. I studied for about 3 hours. I then got ready for church, & after church, which was at 4 pm, Sister Griffin invited us down for supper & we were sure glad to have a a chance to go, for we were hungry.

After supper Elder Shumway & I bid them goodbye, called on Sister Blairs & bid them goodbye & then we went down to Coonrades & spent the evening & to bid them goodbye also. I kinda hated to leave them for they were so dear friends to me. They sure have treated me swell & the poor girls, Lois & LaRue, gee they hated to see me go away, for said they, I have grown so dear to them, for I am just like a dear old brother. For myself, I hated to leave them, for they were so much comfort to me and they always were ready to cheer me up when I would get homesick. They would do anything just to get me to laugh. They are sure two dandy girls, & I can tell you it was quite hard for us to say goodbye to each other. But such is missionary life, you no sooner become good friends & learn to know each other, when you have to be separated again.

We went home about 10 pm & beat it to bed. I had a hard time to keep that big old tear out of my eyes.

1917 Mar 3 - Saying Goodbye

Mar 3 1917 Sat

This morning I wrote two letters home, went down for mail & received a letter from LaVern & a birthday card from the Coonrade girls here in town. After dinner I took a bath & at four o'clock Elder Shumway & I were invited out for supper at Sister Blairs & we sure did make a pig of ourselves, eat, I thought I would bust. We stayed there until 9 pm a-singing while the girls played the piano, & when we left, the girls felt so bad to think that we were soon going to leave Burlington that they had to have another cry (some girls they are).

1917 Mar 2 - New Companion (Shumway)

March 2,2,2,2,2,2,2nd 1917 Fri

My birthday. I am 24 years old today. Little did I think on my 23rd birthday that on my 24th birthday I would be out in the world alone, 4,000 miles from home. Some birthday this is for me but I have felt pretty good, for I received a picture of Mother & Father & one of Nora, which was a dear present to me. All day I have been out visiting Saints, as that was better than staying home & becoming homesick. In the evening Elder Shumway, Weaver, [Lamberg], myself & the girls went out to Mrs Howards. Spent 3 hours with her. Had a very nice time. came home & went to bed for the first time to sleep with my new companion, Elder Shumway, with whom I am to labor with from now on, & I believe I will like him fine, for he is a good man.

1917 Mar 1 - Visits & Meetings

Feb 29 Thurs
Mar 1 1917 Thursday

After I had washed the dishes & cleaned up, Elder Howard & I went out visiting Saints. We called on three families & after dinner Elder Hawkins & I went out for a walk as it was such nice weather. We called at Mrs. Coonrade for a couple of hours & took some pictures of her & the girls.

Came home & had supper, then went & held a meeting at Griffins, where the missionaries who are to leave tomorrow for their field of labor gave somewhat their farewell speech. It was sure a nice meeting, for I enjoyed to hear them get up & express their feelings. I suppose my turn will be next Sunday as I don't leave until next Monday.