| Letters by William Mark Leonard |
|---|
| Date | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Nov 25, 1950 | Responding to a Men's Choir open invitation "I (like a fool) went to practice 2pm last Sunday, saw so much of the cold shoulder and sinister smile that I was glad to get away, I definitely was not welcome, so thats that." "Douglas was caught racing the car, so he cannot drive for 60 days." |
| Nov 17, 1951 | "I am, we are, very glad you are making so many nice friends, any nice girls among them? Don't lose a good chance, you might miss out if you wait too long. A camera is very nice of course but not very responsive." |
| May 1, 1952 | "I think we are assured of going to Minneapolis for a 3 weeks visit, May 10th to 30th. Wilford sent us $100.oo for our fares, we think this very.generous of him indeed. Of course we may never see them again, and it looks like a nice thing to remember, and so it is." |
| Feb 11, 1953 | Trouble with the Dodge. |
| Oct 20, 1954 | "I am much exercised about your emotional upset with regard to the Missionary Work in the Solomon Islands you are considering." "I was much uplifted when I first learned of your call, the NEED IS THE CALL, and later, the humbug of 0fficialdom that blocks your way. I had something of the same handicaps to block me, but when I was sure I dropped everthing and went to the West China work in 1913, put in 12 years, on that work, came home hoping to get into the ministry, but the Iron Gate was locked for me." |
| Dec 22, 1954 | "Referring back to Wilford, he is getting back to normal very slowly, he is very weak, has been practically confined to bed for 6 months." |
| Jan 26, 1955 | About Catherine's funeral, mailed to Methodist Mission, Barakomo Airfield, Vella la Vella, British Solomon Islands. Typed part by William, handwritten part by Edith. "Wilford was here to-day and told us that when he read our letters to her she would lapse into a como, then he would continue when she revived enough to hear. He asked her if she knew she was going to die, she said she did and said she did not like to go and leave so many nice people." |
| Jan 28, 1955 | Edith: "Etheridge replied to my letter telling him of Catherine's death on the 21st, he recalled many incidents in which he and Catherine were concerned." |
| Nov 12, 1956 | Edith: "Immediately I sit down to write my thoughts fly from me - so I'll write at random." |
| Nov 29, 1956 | "Your Mother is not well, I have to be with her all the
time, she is now trying to sleep on the living room couch 10:30 am and I have to go out on household errands, cook, etc etc. I will not attempt to give you details of her trouble, too painful to me, and nobody can help me, and you.are going, going WHERE ??????" "Remember you are in.God's hands, and you are not out of NEW GUINEA, we pray for you daily, I pray for you most earnestly, that God will bring you to your senses, there is no Salvation for you in SOCIAL CREDIT." |
| Dec 18, 1956 | "I still cannot see why you have spend so much time in England, when your Mother is so dangerously ill here.... Your Mother sometimes fails to recognize me, and she will ask for WILL...." "My, our, sorrow about you is that up to this your 37th year you have got no where...no wife, no home, no money saved for old age...." |
| Dec 29, 1956 | "England in Feb. or March, would not be·much to look at, and you have no interests there which are more important than seeing your Mother here. I think speed is the chief urge for you at this time." |
| Jan 4, 1957 | "We can do all right for ourselves, without your help, but don't expect us to help you. Time will tell us whether you get anywhere or not. Our chief anxiety about you is THAT YOU GET SOMEWHERE." |
| Jan 14, 1957 | "We note that you expect to arrive in London England on the 12th of March '57. We trust you will come direct here from London. From Mar 12th to April 12th would burn up about one month in England, why?? I have explained that it is very important that you get here as swiftly as you can, with no delays en-route." |
| Jan 21, 1957 | "...you seem so very much at your leisure coming here. Of course there is nothing very much to attract you here. People here will not recognize you, you are just another stranger come to Delhi. Time wipes one·of the slate. I remember coming back to Belfast to the church I left to go to South Africa and people asked when I was going.back....." "This day is a very sad one for us, this· morning your Mother just reminded me that on the 21st of January our Catherine died two years ago. The link between the Parks and us feels quite broken now, they are quite friendly, but now we don't belong." |
| Jan 28, 1957 | William: "The idea that you got a job, is very remarkable, and it tickles me to think that you were so much in demand that you have a job for 2 weeks."
Edith: "I most miss reading - also walking - writing for my eyes are poor." |
| Feb 23, 1957 | "Your Mother is still ALIVE, and expecting you to come here as quickly as you can." |
| March 2, 1957 | "Your Mother still alive, as I write, but Mentally very ill...." "I am having a tough time, housekeeper, nurse, your Mother is a poor sleeper, I have the bedroon door locked lest she goes out into the other rooms in the dark, the other mornimg 1:30am she played some on the Piano." "I am very anxious about you getting SOMEWHERE. I don't want to DIE thinking you are still following a Will O'th Wisp." |
| March 15, 1957 | "Despite the fact that I told you, your Mother is dangerous ILL, you tell us you will spend seme weeks in England visiting people that you knew in N.Z. and the Solomons. I urged you to come to Canada as
Swiftly as possible to see your Mother alive and able to recognize you. ...your Mother and I are very much hurt that this cursed S.C. has taken you mentally, you had better see a doctor right away, you may think you.are all right, but you must know that most deranged people think they are all right.
Don't laugh at me, this is a fact. Just think of the things you have done. You deserted the MISSION FIELD where you were doing a good job, now you are following a WIL-O-TH-WISP which will land you in the ditch." "Your MOTHER some times thinks I am a strange man, working in the kitchen, and she asks me 'WHERE IS WlLL?.' I look at her and laugh, and she comes back to normal." "Be sure and consult a doctor. Your Mother thinks there is something wrong, or you would not treat us like this, think of the tragedy of a missionary leaving. the field, then having to go to the St. Thomas, Mental Hospital." |
| March 19, 1957 | "Your Mother...is very weak, seems to lose herself mentally, and at times cannot speak. She is much cheered that you are coming home, I trust she will be alive to see you on the 18th." |
| March 22, 1957 | Birthday card. [Your Mother] "came into my study in tears, she thought she heard Alice's voice." |
| April 6, 1957 | "Evelyn, Eric, and Mark, came to us for a surprise visit,
on the 28th stayed until the 3Ist a veritable God Send to us here, for the wonderful clean up here and the splendid cooking." "I am not sure that your coming is going to ease up my work here, you are sure to be so engrossed in you own affairs, that you will be no help to me, and if you don't get a job, it will be worse." |
| Jan 2, 1962 | "I hope you can get me back to the Bush House as soon as possible." "I am not well my cough still chokes me with flem. Alice expects you to pick me up as soon as you can." "I cannot possibly get shelter anywhere else therefore my urgent appeal." |
Letters to Catherine and Wilford
Return to Old Family Letters