Name/Title
Letters to Barbara MaxwellEntry/Object ID
2021.2.577Scope and Content
A 4 page letter from Marilyn Maxwell, St. Joseph, Mo. to Miss Barbara Ann Maxwell, Columbia, Missouri, dated March 2nd, Sunday. It is postmarked Mar 3 1952. It is in green ink. At the top of the envelope is written "Why Pray?" and has a 3¢ stamp.Context
Querida mia,
I was most glad to hear Ma & Pa when they called from the hotel Friday evening at 6:15.
I had worried about the weather & so was very happy to know you had made the trip safely and well.
I hadn't gotten home til bout 5:30, as I had my student til 4:30 or so and then had to come home by bus.
I was eating supper when they called. (The lemon ice cream was yummy!) After supper I just sat around & read & listened to the radio. I tried to get the Mo. game, but o' course they didn't broadcast it, so I just fished around for different programs. Heard Mario, who was real fine; he sang songs from "The Great Caruso". "Because" & "Vesti la giubba" among them. I wasn't in the mood for the C.B. - Central game, so I didn't tune in. Guess it was a humdinger. The winning basket was scored with 10 seconds to go. Huse was high scorer, but George is getting so broad minded & impartial it's pitiful. Maryville beat Chillicothe to take 3rd place. Of course the C. B. boys & Dale got their pictures in the paper right away.
Today the all City team was in - Huse, Taylor, Brady, Mesner, & Dickens. Three for C. B.! Mother was quite disgusted. That there should be one boy from Benton who was good enough for it. I'm real glad Tom made it. He & Border & Ed were unanimous choices. Bernie Poteet & Duane Downer made the 2nd team.
Yesterday Sallie and I party-ed all day, or practically. We blew up balloons down at the service station in the morning, and then started out at 1:30 in the afternoon to get everything all set. The party was from 3 to 4:30, and a gay time was had by all. We had 21 kids there, including both little Olerts and both little Clarks. Three Lafayette Sr. girl scouts put on a puppet show (hand puppets) and it went over big. Then we played games and ate. We had ice cream cups, cookies & Stover stick candy. I got home about 5:15 (Sallie & I took one of the girl scouts & the equipment home & also Denny & Leslie), just as the folks were arriving. So I helped 'em bring in their luggage.
Then we went out to Jerre's for supper. Went grocery shopping afterwards and made a date to have the car washed. Had to break that date, tho, as the snow was too deep this morning. I woke up in the night & saw the snow. Cars were having a hard time going along. It was beautiful this a.m., but now it is slushy & most of it has fallen off the trees. I took taxi to Sunday school, but Daddy out his chains on & came after me after church.
Everyone asked about you: John, Dorcas, Mrs Norris, & Mr Sevy. John said uo at Michigan they don't allow any students to have cars. What do you think of that? His sermon this morning was good - naturally. "Why Pray?" He first cited too extremes of people who believe there is no use in praying. The first are those who say God is not interested in us, that He is like the watchmaker who makes a fine watch but is no longer interested in it after it is made. We make no difference to Him; He is not concerned about us, therefore, why pray? The other extremists are those who say God has ordained everything that happens, everything we do. We have no choice, no freedom of will; if we are chosen he will accept us, if not, there is nothing we can do to alter things, so why pray? But, he said, there are few among us who do not pray when in trouble, or faced with a crisis. "There are no atheists in the foxhole of life." Then, why pray? There are many answers but "I choose to answer that practical, philosophical question in a way based upon belief."
He quoted from a book that started out, "Prayer that is not founded in belief becomes magic, or wishful thinking," or just talking to ourselves. Everyone who believes in the righteousness of God, in the perfect will of God, in His attention to detail, founds his prayer on this belief. "God is a God of detail. The telescope shows us the immensity of the universe; the microscope shows us the infinite detail. 'Every hair on your head is numbered' ." God is interested in us and in all we do. "Prayer may not stop a bullet in its trajectory, but it may give me the courage to bear up when the telegram comes from the War Department."
"Why pray? Some people say, 'Because things happen when I pray.' Others, "Jesus says to pray; it helped Him, and it helps me. "But Mr. Olert says to pray because of belief in God's right triumphing over wrong. Without prayer, without communion with Him who always triumphs, how can we triumph?
There were only four of us sopranos today, Margaret, Joyce Ann, Barb Lee & I. So we really had to give forth.
Lou Ann Boyer's picture is in today's paper, her engagement to Jug - no date yet set.
Fanie had a new hat o n today, orange - sat down on one side. The kids are over their flu noew. Guess John is, too. His voice sounded normal. Incidentally, I see no resemblance to Stauffer there.
Best I stop. Ms has written too. Take good care of yourself.
Love MarilynLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
LetterNomenclature Primary Object Term
CorrespondenceNomenclature Sub-Class
Other DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication Objects
