Ben Van Raalte, a son of Albertus and Christina Van Raalte, wrote his father saying that he had not yet received a letter from him although his mother had. Ben reported that the hired hand had run off so he had not been able to do anything about the fence. After he finishes his work in the morning, he strips wood until 4.30 p.m. and then attends evening school. Derk brings his father up-to-date on farm matters.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/1092/thumbnail.jp

Kennedy, Nella

Van Raalte, Ben

English

In a letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to his son, Derk, the father is admonishing his son to live an upright life. He hopes that Derk will write him about his studies. Derk is also admonished to be helpful to his mother.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/1440/thumbnail.jp

Van Raalte, A. C.

Digital Commons@Hope College

Hope College Hope College Digital Commons Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859 Van Raalte Papers 2-20-1859 Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Dirk Van Raalte A. C. Van Raalte Nella Kennedy Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s The original documents are held in the Albertus C. Van Raalte Collection (M300) or the Dirk B.K. Van Raalte Collection (M301) in Heritage Hall, Hekman Library, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI. The Van Raalte material in Heritage Hall has since been reorganized. https://archives.calvin.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=264&q= https://archives.calvin.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=262&q= This digitized material is intended for personal research/study only. The original documents may not be reproduced for commercial use in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Heritage Hall at Calvin University. Contact the Curator at Heritage Hall. Recommended Citation Van Raalte, A. C. and Kennedy, Nella, "Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Dirk Van Raalte" (1859). Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859. 441. https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/441 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Van Raalte Papers at Hope College Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859 by an authorized administrator of Hope College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@hope.edu. Mr. Dirk B. K. Van Raalte Pella, Iowa Feb. 20, 1859 Beloved son, Although we are far apart, my heart is with you and in your studies, because your future is of great concern to me. And that depends so much on your utilizing present opportunities, of your current progress, preparation of your heart and conduct. For that reason I beg of you to act wisely and thoughtfully. Do not be distracted by childish activities or by a desire to playl or by sluggishness. Pray much for faithfulness in your work and calling, for a genuine, truth-loving life, a God-fearing heart and for blessing upon your labors. Dear child, we are dependent upon God for everything; what is impossible for us is possible with God, and furthermore, God will hear you for Jesus' sake. Dirk, I hope that you may understand that you may not live in accordance with your own desires and will. For the Lord your creator has a claim upon you; you belong to Him and therefore you must ask, "Lord, what would you have me do?" May your life and strength be devoted to God. That must be the focus of your desires. I would love to know a little about your studies, and to receive a letter from you. But my child, do not allow the work to be dependent upon the help of Hoogesteeger, but be prepared for his lessons. You yourself must learn and apply yourself in doing so. May God give you wisdom. Greet Hoogesteeger from me. Help mother as much as possible and make her comfortable. Kiss dear Anna. It seems to me while you are taking care of your heart, you ought also to take upon yourself the complete care for the chickens. That is, if it does not hinder your work. It should not to be that great an effort. You ought to make some money from the eggs for corn. You should make a note each day of how many eggs you gather, also what expenditures you have —just like Cornelis. But a tenth of your gross income you should set aside for missions. I would like to have the turkeys go to Albertus soon, for they tempt the chickens to go to the garden and they scratch too much in between the strawberries. Live contently, be zealous, helpful and prayerful, my child, and God bless you for Jesus' sake. Your father A. C. Van Raalte who loves you warmly. Send me several issues (6 or 8 or 10) of the tract Weldadigheid and Religion [Blessing and Religion], packaged well [literally: cross strips]. [Translation: Nella Kennedy, September 2005]  Speelzucht could be translated desire to gamble, but it is likely that ACVR is encouraging his son to mature, not to stop him from a serious addiction. -it-fr (14,f ,r IJ -0( 4-- C-0 Alt- Mk. Dirk B.K. Van Raalte Pella, Iowa Feb. 20, 1859 Dear Son: a44,/ Although we are far apart my heart is with you in your studies, because yor future is of great concern to me, and that depends to such a great Pre:m1 degree upon the use made of present opportunities, of future progress, the preparation of ioneg-heart and conduct. For that reason I beg of you act Wisely and thoughtfully, and do not be distracted by childish activities or p , - by a desire to gamble or by foo14sbness. Pray much for faithfulness in your a. gani)tme,+t-tHii-Iivio'? work and calling, for righteous -life, a God-fearing heart, and a blessing upon your labors. Dear child, we are dependent upon God for everything, what is impossible for us is possible with God, andAGod will hear you for Jesus' sake. Mc ti.1-40" Dirk, I hope, you understand that you are not to live in accordance with your own desires and will. For the Lord your creator has a claim upon you, you belong to Him and therefore you must ask, "Lord, what would you have me to do?" May your life and strength be devoted to God. That must be the focus of your desires. LNIAL I would 1;_tke to know a little al4rarir studies, and receive a letter 1440  from you. But my child, do not allow your—hel-p- tp be dependent upon 4-1,t Hoogekeger but prepare, for his lessons. Yod must learn tia-think for. yourself and apply yourself in doing so. May God give you wisdom! Greet Hoogeteger for me. Help mother 4s mugh as, you can and make her C tu-oetidf; k jil,t).,£ cli-tx- C4-4-t. -(1\ tolo_ j comfortable. Kiss dear Anna. I think ,foy your pwn satisfaqtion you had uw -tto.tk-4- 0(-f i-MU- ()441>k (- WA .r--a- 14A/ :*.r.440:4>Kd better take the entireArsp nsibility upqn-yourse , if it does got .PttAtta4 Ot eti__  interfere ,.4--- with your work. +must not' be the-mere ( ? ) You must do as Cornelis did and make a record each day of the  wanneer het namelijk u geen hinder is in uwe werk, het moet bloot cone niet hinderlijke inspanning zijn. Gij moet zien uit de eieren wat geld te maken voor koorn. Gij moet als Cornelis deed elke dag optekenen de eieren die gij raapt, ook wat uitgaven gij hebt, doch de tiende uwer zuivere inkomsten moet gij afzonderen voor het zendelingswerk. De kalkoenen zag ik gaarne spoedig naar Albertus vertrekken, want die verlokken de kippen naar de tuin en schrobben te veel tussen de aardbeien. Leef vergenoegd, ijverig, gedienstig en biddend mijn kind en God zegene u om Jezus' wille. Uwen u hartelijk liefhebbende vader A.G. Van Raalte. Laat mij ettelijke exemplaren (6 of 8 of 10) van het trattaatje "Weldadigheid en Godsdienst" onder kruisband warden toegezenden. 20 February 1859 Pella, Iowa Ina letter of Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte to his son, Derk, the father is admonishing his son to live an upright life. He hopes that Derk will write him about his studies. Derk is also admonished to be helpful to his mother. In Dutch; translation by ??. Original at Calvin?; in transcription and translation only. The translation is incomplete. These papers are in the Van Raalte Papers, Heritage Hall, Calvin College, box 9, folder 25. /  you  and also your disbursements for the work of missions. I would be pleased to see the turkeys go to Albertus, for they the chickens  A.C. VAN RAALTE 2/20/1859. Pella, Iowa,  2/20/1859  Mr.  Dirk B.K. van Raalte Geliefde zoon, 'ofschoon afwezend, zoo is echter mijn hart bij u en uwe studieen, want uw toekomstig lot gaat mij zeer ter harte. En dat lot hangt zozeer af van het gebruik der tegenwoordige gelegenheid, van uw tegenwoordige vordering, hartsvorming en gedrag: daarom smeek ik u, handel verstandelijk en nadenkend en wil niet door kinderachtigheid, door speelzucht of door traagheid uzelven vermissen. Bid veel om getrouwheid in uw werk en roeping, om een recht waarheidlievend, Godvrezend hart en om zegen op uwen arbeid. Lieve kind, van God moeten wij het alles ontvangen, het onmogelijke bij ons is mogelijk bij God; en ook God wil u verhoren om Jezus' wil. Dirk ik hoop dat gij verstaan moogt dat gij niet moogt leven naar eigen wil en lust, want God uw maker heeft recht op u , gij behoort Hem toe en daarom gij moet vragen: Heer wat wilt Gij dat ik zal doen? Dat toch uw leven en krachten Gode gewijd mogen zijn, moet het brandpunt zijn uwer begeerten. Iets van uwe studieen te vernemen in een letter van uw hand is mijn begeerte. Doch mijn kind laat het werk toch niet rusten op de hulp van Hoogesteeger, maar maak u bereid voor zijne lessen, gijmoet zelve leren denken en daarom uzelve inspannen: God geve flijsheid! Groet Hoogesteeger van mij. Help moeder zoveel zulks mogelijk is en maak het haar gemakkelijk. Kus lieve Anna. Mij dunkt bij de verzorging uwer harten moest gij ook de verzorging der kippen maar geheel op u nemen, 

Letter from A. C. Van Raalte to Dirk Van Raalte

Hope College Hope College Digital Commons Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859 Van Raalte Papers 3-4-1859 Letter from Ben Van Raalte to A. C. Van Raalte Ben Van Raalte Nella Kennedy Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s In the collection of Cindy Van Orsdal Merwin, Weaverville, CA. This digitized material is intended for personal research/study only. The original documents may not be reproduced for commercial use in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Cindy Van Orsdal Merwin. Recommended Citation Van Raalte, Ben and Kennedy, Nella, "Letter from Ben Van Raalte to A. C. Van Raalte" (1859). Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859. 93. https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/93 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Van Raalte Papers at Hope College Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Van Raalte Papers: 1850-1859 by an authorized administrator of Hope College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@hope.edu. 4 March 1859 Holland, Michigan Ben Van Raalte, a son of Albertus and Christina Van Raalte, wrote his father saying that he had not yet received a letter from him although his mother had. Ben reported that the hired hand had run off so he had not been able to do anything about the fence. After he finishes his work in the morning, he strips wood until 4.30 p.m. and then attends evening school. Derk brings his father up-to-date on farm matters. In Dutch; translated by Nella Kennedy, 2001. Original owned by a Van Raalte descendant, Cindy Merwin, Weaverville, California. Holland, Ottawa, Mich. March 4[7], 1859 Dear father, I have not received a letter from you. Mother has received a letter today. Our hired hand has ran off angry {met een booze kop—with an angry head] so I am alone so that I have not been able to do anything on the fence. But I think, since we don't have a hired hand, we wouldn't have to pay him either, so now I do all the work myself. I finish about ten o'clock in the morning, or earlier. Then I strip bark [?]  [hout=wood; meaning of rijzen in this context not clear; hout rijzen — possibly work with brother Albertus in the lumberyard] until four-thirty. Then I go home to do my work there in order to be on time to get to evening school. We brought the pigs to the sawmill pond. The reason is that it is unthinkable to obtain corn and they can have it pretty good there; they have already made a hole in it. The little ones stayed here. Now I don't need to feed the horses so much [?=hard] and they don't suffer in[7] those short days. We couldn't feed them anyhow so that I could continue to work hard. Frank became crippled again but even so seems to be getting better. But he stood loose last night and then he probably acted mischievously [literally: went to tease] so that they beat him and now he has become crippled in the front too. Witback calved; her milk comes in reasonably well [literally: she gives reasonably well]. Her calf is a female. It is growing well; it is eight days old now. The other animal of Albertus will calf in less than a month. Well, father, I hope that your trip will make you healthy. I long for your return. Write me your thoughts about whether theyzwill be a drop in grain yet. B. Van Raalte [translator's note: the letter shows several mistakes in Dutch, and B. also anglicized words] d_ 27e  /4c_  fenne rra(a  , ang, ii-aaAft rti -nyir ~tv Sede4i la_1" a it oti4r o21,L -2,-2.tf 2t4 at, pta, 6v ;ited/ce,,,, 200 f'5X it? ~a eta" dv unr4 4 leatirt- t,  :7,~c-ove.J II de-3J ,e0oa ity,^ igteriA 11J 44<it1 0-2-tn ‘,c) 36  ctlie/1-94/w gt,  in} 6/ drur esvf t-~ det,nir ex Zt.t #i)C4 V/4 s-  at, ice A 1:4 ,-)e-tviZAj Int-' ~fit, 4/t7/1 /yd._  Ire 61--/0 ".a.evr‘ ted.e7 e,;67-e./4-t, etzn1/4lad ,14e,,,L.).“~ let eadelderd det474, 5 -ee nre-c6ertf (-;-veztlerari . am} 4e/f4_ /1"-c4,z- 4-0 icta,c,ob moitte,na. at, 1 a gt der,  4t.Lzdt-9,frei.ea: 28-0 d-at- dany 4deeleA., a-e?" Xei • e; altd afri Oite/bota" 2narg/2-,  4 ge  411evii~11: eitC; net2a/ .gr2V ti,cf., 64- al le-nr 4-0 ata.7 eikii} .04 cl oteig472-e-t?rdvni k:/ ,t etj, ize,7U,44fr '94 i-L-074% 6?-‘ loroc4/ -drilint Jett:€-4') -etr, • re,c /71; 1-mxf ettifir e9-a,c6 jeftite/an-L. "72-7, (-;(1-et-ni 4n&sI-1~ 1 %a/ 22-17". -e/24ni- "estmVle,vti oft 1)C,2/ '71,0t-ct/fr  ony- trziffeeht..6~ •1_0,17 difrip 4t_&%0-7)-4, 

Letter from Ben Van Raalte to A. C. Van Raalte

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Letter from Ben Van Raalte to A. C. Van Raalte

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