[Letter to Dora Best]Gainsville, Florida, Oct., 25, 1937
Dear Dora and Mae:- Your letters of mixt dates came today. They were interesting to me.
You see, I see and know nothing up there unless one of you writes then mental visions come
before me and it seems like I can hear your voices. Your long protracted meeting: I could
see you going and hear the singing and preaching and see your rapted faces as you saw your
sins forgiven because the Lord Jesus Christ died your death to give eternal life in Heaven
beyond this world.
I preached here last Sunday night in a large tabernacle, the church home of the second
Baptist Church. It was cold, but I had them toe arrange the benches around the stove, fill
it with wood and while the fire roared, I stood on the saw dust and did my best for
Almighty God. Brother Bob, last news said he was still bedridden laying there day and
night waiting for his spirit to be released from his afflicted body. He has all ways been
a good brother to me which I appreciate more and more as time carries us into eternity.
I am still blest with good health. I could climb Lookout Mountain again, if necessary
but do not over exert myself trying to conserve my strength, brought up from my youth to
serve me in old age. If I had served the devil back ther for pleasure or worldly profit, I
now would be dead like my boyhood companions who walked in the briad road to death; and
what good did it do them, I have had more pleasure in life than they had with the
pleasures of sin. There is nothing in sin, and it is folly to go to where the devil is to
find it out for then it will be too late to repent be freed from Satan to live in Heaven,
forever. This is not self praise but stating a fact which any one can have in old age, if
they serve God, from youth up.
We went down to Deland to see Russie. She calls Mrs. Ware mother Frances, Ruby, Frances
and I call her Honey. If this makes you gulp, try a little soda. All my children like her,
and seems glad that I am not alone up here in my old age.
I found out lately that Loraine my youngest daughter, makes $ 7.00 a day, six days
a week, with no loss time. I was 23, I worked one summer for her
grandfather, Berry McCalls, for $10.00 a month and board. So I worked for 38.6/13 cents a
day. Then if an angel had told Mr. McCall, if he would be willing for his favorite, pretty
daughter to marry his farm hand, their youngest daughter, would make 7/10, in one day what
he was paying his farm hand one month of work, lost time counted out. And futhermore, his
daughters husband, in old age, would have an income without work, twice the amount per
month, what he paid his farm hand for four months of hard work.
We left Winder, Georgia, 16, last, spent two nights with Arlie at Unadilla Georgia,
Preached for the first Baptist Church Sunday night and go to Gainsville Florida, Monday
P.M. Oh, yes, people we knew, gave us welcome and Ruby had things in order for us.
Since I am old, it takes two States to hold me and my present wife which make us like
the wild geese and other migratory birds.
The great God had been and is a good father to me. I am having a far better time in old
age than any of my boyhood playmates, who had earthly fathers to look after and protect,
and give them an easy time during their childhood days. God said he would be a father to
me, I believed him and tried to live accordingly; hence, I am up here in old age, the best
time of my life. A hard time in youth gives power to be thankful to God for a bright old
age and for a joy never seen on land or sea.
Thank you for all your good wishes and kind words you wrote. May God send good angels
to be like a protecting army around you through this dangerous world.
Sincerely,
G. W. WARE
