The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-02-23
From Eva Plamondon.

I have not been forgotten by you. [ owe you
many thanks for your gentle reminder of my
neglect, for since my dear father died 1 have not
written you a line, for which I am heartily
ashamed, as he often asked me not to give up
"Our Social Column"
I hope the dear Cousins who used to mention
Eva in their letters, have not quite forgotten
their lonely little cousin. So many times since
papa died, / have thought of you all, and thought
of writing for only a word of sympathy and love.
I felt so desolate, so lonely. Rest assured, [ have
not forgotten any of you, either in my prayers or
in remembrance.
Cousins, l am so glad that winsome, lovely
spring time is on it's fowery way to US. Though
/ love all the seasons, spring is my favorite. l
trust that no heart on earth is SO burdened with
sorrow or disgrace, that spring will not grant
them peace and forgetfulness of their pain. AT
ter all, dear hearts,, nothing on earth-sickness,
misfortunes, loss of friends, reputation. even
dea h itself. cannot take Cor should not) the JOY
of life and living, on Gods beautiful earth away
from us if only we keep our hearts pure and ten
der, our souls white and s~potless, and our con-
science clear-clear as the sparkling mountain
streams that flow through fragrant meadows and
bending willows in spring time. If | had never
known sorrow in my young life, [ would not be
so assured of this; but, [ have been tried, most
bitterly tried, ever since my last liter, and though
| miss "the touch of the vanished hand and the
sound of a voice that is still" and | weep some
times in secret and silence and alone, for the ten
derness and "~petting" that | love so we'll, but is
mine no more, still there is a strange mystical
feeling in my tender heart that God has some
sweet, noble, womanly work here for me to do,
tender, sensitive, and weak as | am. 1t may not
be any great heroic deed; l rather think it is the
sweet, beautiful domestic life that He has in store
for me, and in which l shall be so happy.
We are here to make the world BRIGHTER, purer,
better, because of our little share in ii, by our
influence, which is always felt, be it ever so small
and humble. We are here to love and be loved,
and to be so lovable that we compel love-love of
the very highest, purest type; holy, tender, joyous.
We are here to cheer, comfort, and bless, to
laugh and be happy with the glad, to soothe and
console and pray for the s~orrowful, to be gentle
and thoughtful with the aged, and to smooth with
soft, tender hands the care lines from their brows.
We are here to kiss and fondle, dear girls, the
dear innocent children; to romp with them, play
with them, and, at night, when peaceful stars
shine in Gods dome, and the sun has set low and
gorgeous beneath the western hills, and the little
dimpled hands and bright baby eyes are tired, we
must fold the pretty hands and whisper the sweet,
trusting, childish prayers to them, to repeat after
us, in soft Hsping tones, that our mothers taught
us not so long ago, to US, dear girls. What can
be sweeter or nobler than a young girl, sweet and
pure, teaching a child it's prayers? Does it not
bring us wondering sacred thoughts of the untrod
golden future that lies before them?
All! we are here for so many things good and
true. And, remember our aim in all we do, in
every simple act, must be to please God, to worship
Him. Let this be our earnest endeavor, all who
read these simple lines: Keep YOUR heart pure,
your conscience clear, and our heritage shall be
true hearts to love us here. and eternal love here
after. Y PLAMONDON.
Buncombe Co., n. @.