222 No. Wahsatch
Colo. Springs, Colo.
Feb
March 2. 1934

Dear 'lil' Star:

How I wonder where you are
Far away from here—so bright
Like a beacon light in the night

I oft times wonder what it is about you that makes you stand head and shoulders above everyone else. I've at last come to the conclusion that were it not for your tenderness, sweetness etc. you wouldn't be that way for the single reason that I love you. Is that a good enough reason, sweet?

We stage our play tonight and I hope it goes off alright. The new missionary Sisters, Sister Cobbley arrived here yesterday from Lincoln Nebraska. She is going to take over the dramatic work. She will be Sister Husle's Senior companion. She is from Garden City, Utah, almost fifty miles South from Georgetown, Idaho and on the beautiful Bear Lake.

My, but it thrills me the royal way in which I have been tested. I've been out to Lunch and Dinner every day + will be until I go. I am staying Until Sat. afternoon + then go as Far as Pueblo with the Elders from that Branch. I suppose I will get in Grand Junction sometime Sunday.

Going to take a bath now and wash the Colorado Springs dut [dust] from from my feet. The reason for the pale ink is that I washed the pen out in the warm water as it went dry and wouldn't write very well.

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Much better now. Oh boy, the Landlady just screamed at us to come quick, that there was a snake in the cellar. We went down and it was as dead as a doornail. Gee, was she excited! Whew!

I sometimes wonder what some of these Widows would do without the missionaries. There are too many of them for real comfort. Well, goodbye for now, Darling.

E.M.C.

Somewhere between Pueblo + Grand Junction.
D+RS R.R.
March 4, 1934
Morning 8:00 A.M.

Darling:

I've been on the train since last night at 11:30. Will arrive in Grand Junction about noon today.

Friday I went out to Lunch and then went up to our hall and helped get ready for the one act play. (darn the rough rails, can't seem to write.) Had an Oyster Supper at 6:00 oclock and then took to the Hall at 7:00 for Mutual. I took Charge of the last meeting and it went by fine Classwork + Activity as well. At 9:15 We presented the play, and I was surprized [surprised] at the way the kids acted. Much better than I thought they would do. It went off fine with the exception of one paragraph skipped.

After the play we turned a radio on and the people there (around 60) started to Dance No sooner had they started then an announcement was

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made of my leaving and the officers of the Y.L.M.S.A. presented me with a nice book "R you Listenin'" by Tony Wons, the radio star. It is a collection of bits of Philosophy etc. Boy, I certainly was embarrassed. For the first time since my arrival in C.S. I couldn't say anything. At last I told them thanks + sat down. Later they served refreshments.

Saturday Dinner B.B. team came down and played the combined teams of C.S. + Pueblo. We won from them 28-23

I'm wondering what the Large Denver branch thinks of the Young stripling Colo Springs, by now.

After the game I got my suit cases and went to Pueblo with the folks from down there. It s? me 40 miles of home on the train. We ate supper there and then Elder Norris took Elder Stuart + Myself to a Show

It was a good comedy and let out just in time for me to catch my train.

Have just been talking with a boy across the Isle who is also going to Grand Junction, his home is there. He is a M[…] and has worked in Utah a great deal. Says his father is Spanish and his mother is Italian. 22 Years old + says he has known of Mormon Missionaries before.

At the present time we are going through a canyon which

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has rocks towering hundred of high straight down. Looks like the Pictures of the Grand Canyon.

Right here we went through a dark tunnel. Too bad you were not—Gosh, another one—with me and I could have.—Well, talked to you—perhaps.

Beautiful Scenery. Last time I was through here it was in the night time. Must be a thousand or 1500 ft high instead (the rock walls)

I hope you can make the scribble out. Really I'm doing my best under the circumstances.

It's fast Sunday today and the Hawker who sells oranges thinks its funny I don't buy any fruit, as he sees I have no lunch with me. I'm really quite hungry too.

As I pass by a little hill in the walls of the canyon I noticed it is covered with green. At first I thought it was grass but upon closer examination find it is the Wild Oregon slope. The leaves are evergreens and it makes one think it is spring.

By the way , Winter is just beginning in C.S. [Colorado Springs] + they say spring is starting in Grand Junction. Guess I'l miss Winter this year. They always have a celebration during

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fruit blossom time in G.J. and President Daynes says it is just as beautiful then in a few weeks as it is in Cherry blossom time in Japan. He says there are lots of different kinds o fruit grown there, such as Peaches, Pears, Cherries, apples, strawberries, etc. Also says it is a wonderful country for lakes, streams and fish. Lots of flowers + trees. Will not be far from Mesa Verde - a Huge mesa 80 miles long + about a third as wide. It's almost perfectly flat and its of very high altitude. Says there are many lakes up there and that the hunting + fishing is good. He promised to hold conference there in a month or so, and come Friday + take the missionaries on a trip up there for a vacation. He likes to tell fish stories as well as I do. He told me of the big one that got away.

Darn such a rough track—you would almost think I was drunk or else 90 years old by the writing.

Recieved your letter just before leaving for Pueblo. In fact just 5 Min. before. I had borrowed $5.00 from—another tunnel— Elder Howell but I opened the letter before leaving so I gave him back his money. Didn't get it cashed (money order) in Colo. Springs. Don't know whether I can in Grand Junction or Not, as the order is on the Colo. Springs P.O. I had just a little more than enough to buy my ticket

One thing, dearest, is that Missionary espences are a dollar or so cheaper a month, on the average where I am going. How's that for good news?—Train has stopped so perhaps you can decipher this. We are now at Glenwood Springs and a group of Basket Ball players and their girls have found themselves seats just back of me. The silly little things. There are hot springs here and sanitoriums [sanatoriums] it's quite a resort town.

Well, dearest, I'm going to post this letter on the train and it will go right on to salt Lake to you without any red tape or P.O. here first. Hope I soon have another letter from you as the last one was the first one recieved [received] that had only one page to it. Well the old train has started bucking again and "I can't take it" so I will quit now.

Love from your Missionary,

Ellsworth.

P.S. Don't bother about any more money until two weeks from the time you sent this last. I'll get along fine I think.

You darling little Kid I feel like staying on the train. Its only a matter of 6 or 8 more hours ride to S.L.C. and the dearest girl a fellow ever had.

OX. OX.

E.M.C.

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Box 833 E.M. Clark
Grand Junction,
Colorado

Miss Dorothy Smith
2360 Hyland Dr.
Salt Lake City,
Utah.