About the Author
Ellen G. White (1827-1915) is considered the most
widely translated American author, her works having
been published in more than 160 languages. She wrote
more than 100,000 pages on a wide variety of spiritual
and practical topics. Guided by the Holy Spirit, she
exalted Jesus and pointed to the Scriptures as the basis
of one’s faith.
Further Links
A Brief Biography of Ellen G. White
About the Ellen G. White Estate
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Contents
Information about this Book . . . . . . . . . . 1
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Further Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
End User License Agreement . . . . . . . 1
His Mother’s Letters 40
Volney, Iowa, Dec. 24, 1857 . . . . . . . . . . 40
Green Spring, Ohio, March 2, 1858 . . . . . . . 42
Somerville, Mass., Sept. 6, 1859 . . . . . . . . 44
Topsham, Maine, Sept. 20, 1859 . . . . . . . . 47
Topsham, Maine, Sept. 20, 1859 . . . . . . . . 48
Newport, N. H., Oct. 4, 1859 . . . . . . . . . . 50
Enosburg, Vt., Oct. 15, 1859 . . . . . . . . . . 52
Brookfield, N. Y., October, 30, 1859 . . . . . . 53
Iowa City, Iowa, March 3, 1860 . . . . . . . . . 57
Iowa City, Iowa, March 14, 1860 . . . . . . . . 61
Marion, Iowa, March 18, 1861 . . . . . . . . . 63
Dartmouth, Mass., Sept. 15, 1859 . . . . . . . 65
Plum River, Ills. March 25, 1861 . . . . . . . . 66
Eagle Harbor, N. Y., July 26, 1861 . . . . . . . 68
Rochester, N. Y., July, 1861 . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Grass River, N. Y. Aug., 1861 . . . . . . . . . . 74
Lodi, Wis., March 5, 1862 . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Avon, Wis., July 25, 1862 . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Newport, N. H., Oct. 23, 1863 . . . . . . . . . 79
39
His Mother’s Letters
Volney, Iowa, Dec. 24, 1857
My Dear Children: Here we are, twelve miles from
Waukon. We have had a tedious time in getting thus
far. Yesterday our horses for miles had to plow through
snow very deep, but on we came, feeling confident that
our mission was of God. Last Monday we could get
no food that was fit to eat, and therefore rode in the
coldest weather I ever saw, from morning until night, with
nothing to eat but one apple. Oh, how thankful I shall be
to see home, sweet home, again, and my three dear boys,
Henry, Edson, and Willie.
Children, strive to do right, and love the Lord for his
merciful kindness to you all. Obey those who have the
care of you as you would your parents. Be kind to each
other, and yield to each other’s wishes. Don’t become
unsteady. Read the precious word of God.
You should be thankful for your comfortable home.
We often suffer with cold on account of unfinished and
open houses. Last
40
night we slept in a chamber where there was an opening
through the top for the stove-pipe. If it had stormed it
would have come direct in our faces. Pray for us. Unless
the Lord opens the way for us to return, we may be
blocked in with snow, and have to remain all winter.
I hope, dear Henry, that you are a good boy, and are
happy in doing right. Continue to strive to be faithful
in all things. We received your letter, and were much
pleased to hear from you. We think you have made
improvements in setting type. Be faithful, children, in all
things. The Lord will soon come and take the good and
holy to himself. We want you to live among the pure and
holy angels in heaven, and wear a crown of gold, and eat
of the tree of life. Trust in the Lord at all times. Listen to
the voice of conscience. Love God and you will have his
approving smile. What a thought, to have the great God,
the maker of the heavens and the earth, to smile upon and
love you. Dear children, seek for this, pray for it, live for
it.
Your affectionate Mother.
41
Green Spring, Ohio, March 2,
1858
My Dear Henry and Edson: Dear children, your
mother has not forgotten you. She thinks of you many
times every day. We hope you will be good and faithful
children. I have been thinking, what if either of you
should be taken sick and die, and your father and mother
see you no more? Would you be prepared to die? Do
you love God better than any one else? Can you forget
your play to think of God, to go away alone and ask him
for Jesus’ sake to forgive your sins? I know that much of
your time is taken up with your studies, and with doing
errands; but, dear children, don’t forget to pray. The Lord
loves to have children pray to him. And if you really
repent and feel sorry for your sins, God will forgive your
sins for Jesus’ sake.
When you do wrong don’t conceal your wrong, but
heartily and honestly confess it. This I believe you will
do. I have confidence in you that you have tried to do it.
Continue to do so, and we shall love you better than if you
kept your wrongs concealed. God loves honest-hearted,
truthful children, but cannot love those who are dishonest.
Be obedient, dear children. God has been very merciful
to you and to us. Your parents have to travel
42
from place to place among the people of God to try to
do them good and save souls. And the Lord has inclined
sisters Jenny and Martha to come into our family, to feel
an interest for you, to love you, and to care for you, that
we may leave home feeling free. They are not related to
you. They make a sacrifice. What for? Because they love
you. When you grieve them you grieve your parents also.
It is not a desirable task to have the care of children if
they are ungrateful and disobedient. If you perseveringly
try to do right, you will make them happy, and they will
feel it a pleasure to deny themselves to have a care for
you. When asked to do anything, do not say, “Wait a
minute, till I do this.” It is unpleasant to repeat to you the
same things. Now, dear children, obey because you love
to, not because you are driven to. I shall have confidence
that you will do as I wish you to. I shall confide in your
honor, your manliness.
Many times I ask myself the question, Will my dear
children be saved in the kingdom? I cannot bear the
thought of their being shut out of the City with the
wicked. I love my children, but God says that only the
good and holy can be saved. And if you will overcome
your wrongs, love one another, and be
43
at peace among yourselves, the Lord will bless and save
you. You cannot be good, or do right, in your own
strength. You must go to God and ask him for strength.
Ask him that his grace may influence your hearts, and
make you right. Believe the Lord will do it; trust him to
do it. You can be little Christians; you can love and serve
God.
Be good to Willie. Love him. Teach him right things.
If you do wrong, you not only sin yourselves, but you
teach him to sin. When you do wrong, you teach him
to do wrong; so double sin rests upon you. Always act as
you would like to see Willie act. Always speak pleasantly
to him, and try to make him happy.
Your affectionate Mother
Somerville, Mass., Sept. 6,
1859
My Dear Son Henry: We received your letter, and
were very glad to hear from you. You must write oftener.
Send us a letter at Topsham. Think of everything you
have left there and wish us to bring, and we will try to do
so.
We hope you are well and happy. Be a good, steady
boy. If you only fear God and