Saturday, May 31, 1986. Dr. Seamond's Sermon, the "Forerunners of Christ".
As I listened to him, I got to thinking about my Forerunners. I suppose I should say my Mother and Father. Mamma was very particular about who I played with. Not many came up to her strict Ideas. I was alone and had no close friends. I loved to read and early learned to make mats, crochet, and sew.
Papa read the Bible and spoke often of what it said. They took a magazine called "Christian Herald". One time they ran a series of Bible questions. Papa and I found the answers in his Bible. I remember one Christmas all I asked for was a Bible. I wore that Bible out but never read it completely through.
One time at McCabe, the Preacher gave the Altar Call. I didn't understand what it was all about, but Mamma urged me to go forward. I went and Knelt to pray but somehow I felt nothing. I was Baptized and joined the Church at McCabe.
Later when Earl came to work for Papa we went to Bloomington. There a young Southwestern student Emory McNeal preached. He rode a motorcycle and came from Winfield every Sunday morning. Earl and I drove the horse and buggy. Went on the road east of the house. One mile good Road where Everett Perokin lived. [Editors' note: Nellie's handwriting was difficult to read for this name. Neither Otis nor Elsie had ever heard the name before. Possibly the last name is "Pershio".] (Later Howard and Flossie Smith lived there and good neighbors for us.). One mile of trail through the grass. One mile of good road where Charley and Ella Meyers and Lloyd King lived.
Lloyd's mother Alice had been good friend of my mother when they were young. Later the oil field people built a nice Church and Moved in a house for a parsonage.
Slowly I accepted Jesus and felt his presence in my life. As a very little girl, when Wind storms Came up at Night I prayed that Jesus would hold back the wind, and I was sure he did and I could go back to sleep.
My Mother was always singing old sacred Songs as she worked. As she scrubbed clothes on the washboard, she would sing, "Sweet Beulah Land", "In the sweet Bye and Bye", "What a friend we have in Jesus". I have always loved the old songs. Glad I have so many Records and Tapes to Listen to. I cannot sing any more but in my heart there rings a Melody.
Jesus was my helper when Earl and Donald died. God answered many prayers; when I told Him I could stand Donald's death if He would show me they were together, My answer came in a beautiful vision of Earl and Donald together smiling at each Other. Many times Earl came to me in my dreams, spoke to me, and when I woke up I could still feel his Kiss upon my lips.