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Show 41 sure reliance on my divine and all wise Father. And who is it that has been most instrumental in teaching me to know my God? Truly it has been Milford, my dearest friend, the companion of my inner soul. Oh, may Heaven forever smile upon him, bless, shield and protect him forever more and bring him safely home to those who so dearly love him, to wives and children, and may we together see many returns of this day-and as the years glide by may we endeavor to live near unto our God and prepare for an eternal abode with Him.2 Here we see two themes restated and another introduced: her adoration of her husband. After a 23-day interval of silence, on May 28 Ellis says, "Nearly a week has flown since writing here..." This loss of time suggests one of the weaknesses of a diary as primary source in researching a person's life: There will be gaps. This particular gap may have occurred in daughter Ellis Shipp Musser's edit. A legitimate reason might be page limits for publication. In this entry, Ellis is eager with the anticipation of her husband's return from a two-year mission in England, but fears there will not be time for adequate preparations: ...My time is so employed with teaching and household affairs that every moment is completely monopolized. There are so many, many things that I want to accomplish before Milford comes home. I want the house and all our surroundings to be in perfect order, but this is the smallest part of the change I hope for. I wish my mind to grow to expand in beauty! My heart to be pure and noble and richer in kind and gentle sweetness that I may claim the confidence, esteem and love of that truly noble man, my husband.3 Yet she takes time to record an experience which illustrates one of the dominant themes of her record: her love of the gospel. |
