Daughter to Parents: I Weep for Your Return

Dear Father and Mother,

We apologized for all we didn't meet the best with you. Well, we decided to write a little in our grosze geringheit (great humility) und schwach heit (weaknesses). We got your letter again. If only you could begreif (imagine) how many long nights and tearful hours this has made to your dear children. Don't want to blame you, but you know alles (everything) that you went through when your brothers & sisters left. Sorry to hear you had a mishap, and hope it can be healed.

Mom, you wrote that you have a concern for your children. You are our dear parents and we don't expect you to listen to us, but we also have a concern for you. Oh, so sad that you left us. How can you go on and forsake your Father and Mother's will and take under your feet what you promised, on your knees, to God and the gma (church). We want to honor you for all the teachings you kept --- that which your dear Father and Mother taught you, but we can't honor you in what you didn't keep. With only a few words, you understand what we mean. You also mentioned that you may worry and the age is coming on you. We too, believe we are in the last times.

Mom, you wrote to us, asking if you could come and see the children and grandchildren. We can say with tears --- No! You are not welcome to come in the way you are now. With only a few words, you understand. And we do not want you to come and be such an influence to our children. Please, don't come in such a way.

We had just talked lately to come in and visit you. But with this last letter you wrote, how we should live, more in the way you do? Oh, so sad! We are afraid to come and visit you now. We are sehr belediched (very troubled) that you write so much schrift stellinga (Bible verses). So ferfirish (misleading)! If you want to write once in a while, just don't write so much. We are not writing this to put you down or in a mad way, but in "furcht and zittern" (fear and trembling) and "grosze bekimmernisz (great concern)."

When we got done reading your letter Wm was shaking about, all over, and his bare feet were white. You can't imagine what you are doing to your children.

Recently, Atlee stopped at Newland Implement N.E. of Kirksville, then when going home he saw your mailbox and where you live. Yesterday, we came home from WI, and he showed me from 63 where you live. "Die Fruicht aber der Gerechtigkeit wird gesaet in frieden die den Frieden halten." Jacobi 3:18. Yes, the Bible is God's Word, enough is said.

Your brothers and sisters have a concern what we do with your letters. It may cause tears, but you may know what we do with them and you may know our children do not read yours. Please be considerate and if you wanted to just go away and leave us? Oh so sad. Please, just stay away then and we want to ask you never to come and influence any of ours [children] now, and never down the line. But we'd be glad to welcome you, would it be different. I know you understand. I was not going to write so much.

With Love, your unworthiest children, Atlee and Rosie

^{This letter has been published with permission from the owner. Names have been changed.}