This letter, dated February 5, 1933, was written by Evan's mother, Ethel Grace (Papworth) Call, to Evan--a few days after his 22nd birthday.
Because long-distance phone calls were prohibitively expensive, letters were the lifeline.
The mention of the "crumb tray" refers to a common household item of the time used to sweep crumbs off a tablecloth—a thoughtful, practical gift Evan sent home.
Afton Feb. 5 1933.
Dear Evan,
Sunday Afternoon and I am going to send those few lines I wanted so much to send before that eventful day Feb. 1. Twenty-two years and yet that morning is as yesterday to me. Reuel had a birthday last Sunday too. I was telling Reuel how early he got us out in the morning four o'clock. Verna says no wonder he is such an early bird but you got us out just as early I remember how very cold it was both times. It was surely different this year on both dates. Last Sunday was quite warm the sunshine really felt hot as I walked to meeting. The 1st of Feb was colder than Sunday but still warm in comparison with that date 22 years ago.
How does it feel to be so old. You can tell better now when you get twice that old. I was just as old as you were when you were born. I wonder too what the next year will bring. I can’t tell you Evan just how I feel when I think you will soon be coming home. How happy you must feel when you think of how near you are to the fulfillment of honorable mission. As Gerald was saying the other day you have something over the rest of us now. Experience which will give you the confidence we all so much need in this life to accomplish the things of worth to us in the hereafter. You have paid the price and the reward of faithful endeavor is yours. Yes Evan if I could do as I would like I would have all the boys fill missions and girls too for that matter. What we gain in knowledge is all we can take with us when we are called to leave this earth. If only we would use our time so that we would not look back and regret. I feel that a mission would be one of the best means of making any young person sense their responsibility and realize what a lot there is to do and how much it is possible to accomplish. I would imagine it would give them an entirely different view of life, and make them so much better fitted to meet life’s problems. The best school in the world.
I know it will be hard for you to get adjusted to home life again after living such a busy life. I just imagine it's awfully hard, even more so than getting adjusted when you went into the mission field. I guess we will have to put you in Bishop, anyway we will do our best to keep you busy. If we just get you back home we’ll take a chance on the rest.
Vivian is writing a letter too so I guess she will tell you all the particulars about the Gold & Green Ball last night. The contest dance and all. I went down and watched them dance for a while.
Wish I could have been to Relief Society meeting with you on your birthday also the cottage meeting.
Received the trays all OK. They are surely nice Evan the brass is used so much now. We didn’t either one want to say which we would rather have. I tried to get Vivian to say as I thought they were both so nice it didn't matter to me so we drew cuts and Vivian got the crumb tray and I the other tray which I think could be used for a good many things. They are lovely and thanks a lot.
They still have a lot of work to do on the building yet but I don’t know whether it will last until you come home or not. Charlie Johns had his home burn down and he will have to build I guess. Thought they might have a chance to build for Reuel in the spring but he decided to buy back the little home. Lilly traded with Uncle Roy and then Reuel bought it of him. They are still here with us. Mr. & Mrs. Harrison have been renting the house and Mr. Harrison was in California at the time Reuel bought it. He is home now so I guess they will soon move so Reuel can have his home. It is too bad as Lilly really told them they could have the house for a year. Reuel did the business entirely with Uncle Roy.
Gerald says the coasters will do fine.
You ask me if there was anything you do to help so far away. You do help by sending such encouraging letters and soon you be home and we might be able to once have one of our morning talks once more. Lots of love.
[Written sideways in the left margin]: Vivian wants to post this letter on her way to church so must close.