Name/Title
AU Lambert, Daniel Webster - 1882-12-18 letter to Alva Ellwood LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.472Context
Olive dec 18th 1882
Dear son, yours of the 13th inst is before me and read with pleasure it found me in an excellent State of health for which I feel thankful. I was very glad to hear you were all well and getting along well. Our meeting commenced last night at Olive I trust we shall have a good meeting, I spent last week in the Otterbein and Pisgah neighborhood. The Otterbein church is nicely plastered and they have a good job I think we will dedicate in about a month hence, I went to Somerset one day and bought a nice little trunk that just fits in the front part of my buggy, and fits my books it makes me feel more at home having my books with me it cost $1.25
Well our qrtly meeting went off very pleasantly we had a pleasant conference the conference of their own accord raised my salary to $450.00 but having no assessment made to the different classes I did not get much only 33.00 but have rec'd some since, when I get money so I can I will send you money. I think when I go to the Otterbein appointment I will get some more, my appointments will be there next Sabbath. Well I hope you will get along pleasantly at home and at church I am sorry there are so many cares fall on you and that you have to work during school term but hope it will be better next winter, you requested me to tell you about the young folks at Pisgah I have not been at an appointment since I came back and do not know very much about them only they are stirring 'round lively as ever. Well Alva I was glad to find you were so interested in your studies and to see that you can write such a lengthy and interesting letter. But I was astonished and somewhat sad when you told me that you wanted to cross the ocean and visit the old world and that you had such day dreams of greatness
While studying over the matter these thoughts came in my mind
It is time such thoughts
Of promotion should cease
For you'll never figure
In Rome or in Greece
Fame and renown have honors
But both have their gall
Aspiring men climb high
But at last they must fall
Past history tells us
Of men of high state
But many have fallen
By the hand of cruel fate
The ocean has its beauties
Its pleasures besides
But many a pleasure seeker
Was sunk beneath its tides
Men of aspiring ambition
Have exhausted their minds
By straining all energies
Great honors to find
There was Cyrus and Caesar
Like tyrants did reign
But at last by cruel hands
Both of them were slain
There was Lincoln and Garfield
In the nation excelled all
But we have learned to our sorrow
That great men must fall
'Tis not on the ocean
High position nor strife
That always brings pleasure
But the humbler walks of life
I would not crush your hopes
With this monotonous rhyme
But only wish to awaken a thought
That you true pleasure may find
Yours fraternally
D. W. Lambert
