The Dearest Little Letter That I Ever Saw

 

The White family. Elwyn is the baby in the middle.

I was reading a biography about E.B. White recently. This biography was written by Melissa Sweet and is geared towards young people. 

Elwyn White was born in 1899. He was the 6th child in the family, a surprise baby, born when his mother was in her 40's. 

Elwyn and his mother. He looks like
he could be 10 in this picture.

Elwyn's father wrote him this letter upon his 12th birthday. It is the dearest little letter that I have ever seen.

Isn't that the sweetest thing?

In contrast, 

Several years ago I read part of the first chapter of Laddie, an autobiographical novel by Gene Stratton Porter. She was, also, the youngest child, a surprise baby, born when her mother was in her 40's. 

But, that is where the similarities end.

Here is what she wrote,

Pg. 9

........"because my mother loved me now, even if she didn't want me when I was born.

But you could excuse her for that. She had already bathed, spanked, sewed for, and reared eleven babies so big and strong not one of them ever even threatened to die. When you thought of that, you could see she wouldn't be likely to implore the Almighty to send her another, just to make her family even numbers."

Pg. 11+12

"You see it was this way: no one wanted me; as there had been eleven of us, every one felt that was enough. May was six and in school, and my mother thought there never would be any more babies. She had given away the cradle and divided the baby clothes among my big married sisters and brothers, and was having a fine time and enjoying herself the most she ever had in her life......."

"You can't blame my mother so much. She must have been tired of having babies and dislike to go back and begin all over after resting six years."

"They [mother and father] knew the big married brothers and sisters would object, and they did. They said it would be embarrassing for their children to be the nieces and nephews of an aunt or uncle younger than themselves."

Disgusting! I can't finish the first chapter. It is so depressing to try and understand what it must have felt like to know that you weren't wanted as a child. It is, also, gross to try putting myself in her parents' or older siblings' shoes and imagine being such a  shallow person.

Now, I need to go back and look at the happy picture of the White family, adoring their baby brother, and read that darling letter to Elwyn to lift this cloud over my mood.

I grew up in a loving family where babies were always welcomed. A brother or sister being born was cause for joy and celebration. My mother never complained about being pregnant again. She loved us all from the very beginning of our existence.

I thank God for my mother and father and all my brothers and sisters. And now I thank God for my own family and each of my children.

I want my children to feel loved and wanted. I believe every child deserves that, at the least.

Titus 2:4

That they may teach the young women 

to be sober, to love their husbands, 

to love their children,