Winder, Ga., May, 7, 1936.Miss Loraine Ware,
Tallahassee,
Florida.
My dear daughter:- One time, before your day, at my home, near Mason, Columbia County,
Florida, I decided to go out in a hurry, some where, in the dark. So in my hast, I steped
off the porch, on some imaginary steps, which let me slam the ground with the entire
length of the front side of my body. If there had been a sharp stake in my way going down,
I would have impaled my self; and would have been numbered among the things that were,
ever sinse. Fortunately, I broke no bones, as I fell too flat, for that, but I think my
ribs helped me, as springs to break my fall. As my memory goes, this was the first
instance, where my ribs, acted as a buffer, or bumper, between me and a calamity. As I
went down, I think my mouth flew open, for my breath went out, too quick for the nostril
route; though I did not have time to see or feel whether it was open, not. After I got up,
and caught my breath, I think I called my self a fool, for causeing things to happen so
fast, the way I did; but if some one else had called me that, while I was catching up with
my breath, I would have had to call on my fist and foot, to behave them selves. Any how, I
was glad it was dark, so no one could see me and that I would not have to explain how it
happen.
The effect of that episode, lasted me about a score of years, to feel with my foot for
steps, before I put any weight on it; then I began to get careles in the dark, again. I
had an appointment to preach at a family home, one night. They had a narrow porch to their
kitchen and dining room, with no balustrade. I was not in practice, to feel with my foot
for the edges of a porch. So after supper, I stepped out, in the dark, with the sense of a
wide porch on my sub conscious mind, but that did not prevent me going through the same
Thing, again, with a greater dis tance to fall. I had enough of such history repeating its
self; so I have tried to keep the organ of precaution bright in the dark. It has served me
well, it saved my life one time, when I forgot, I was sleeping upstairs, got up and opened
an end door But felt for the steps with my foot, and felt none, then I knew where I was
at, drew back in terror, scared worse, than I was Hurt, the other two times. Some say
fingers were made to feel with, which is one of their uses; but I find the foot a handy
helper on that line.
When I was informed of your mishap to your ancle, I thought, That is the G.W.S. Ware,
in his daughter. If I had fallen like you did, bones would have been broken.
Your father.
G.W.S. Ware
(signature)
