A letter of A.C.V.R. to his son, Dirk B. K., admonishing him about faithful religious practices and urging him to do his schoolwork. Dirk is now 16 years old. Apparently A.C.V.R. is visiting his daughter and son-in-law, Pieter J. Oggel, who are serving the First Reformed Church of Pella. A.C.V.R. also makes mention of other Oggel family members who are living in Pella.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/1087/thumbnail.jp

Kennedy, Nella

Van Raalte, A. C.

English

Digital Commons@Hope College

Hope College Hope College Digital Commons Van Raalte Papers: 1860-1869 Van Raalte Papers 2-7-1861 A Letter of A. C. V. R. to His Son, Dirk B. K. A. C. Van Raalte Nella Kennedy Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s 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, "A Letter of A. C. V. R. to His Son, Dirk B. K." (1861). Van Raalte Papers: 1860-1869. 88. https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/88 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: 1860-1869 by an authorized administrator of Hope College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@hope.edu. February 7, 1861, Pella, Iowa A letter of ACVR to his son, Dirk B. K., admonishing him about faithful religious practices and urging him to do his schoolwork. Dirk is now 16 years old. Apparently ACVR is visiting his daughter and son-in-law, Pieter J. Oggel, who are serving the First Reformed Church of Pella. ACVR also makes mention of other Oggel family members who are living in Pella. Translated; translator? Calvin College Archives, ACVR collection, Box 8, fldr 124. ? S Pella, Iowa, February 7, 1861 Mr. Dirk B. IC. Van Raalte, Holland Provisional Account [or: and following pages] Dear Dirk, Here we are in that beautiful, cold, and distant Pella and although there is no lack of activities here, yet our spirits hover much in your midst. You as well as the others can sweeten our absence by writing often, and, for example, in the form of a daily diary, for then we could occasionally look around the corner. Then we could see you sitting around the table, then we know how late you get up, then we see you go to school with your stack of books under the arm, then we see you give the girls a sleigh ride, then we see you study your lessons. Now, do us the pleasure of sharing with us the daily run of things. Heintje and Ko Oggel write regularly to Rev. Oggel. I wish you would follow that example. I am sitting now in the southwest upstairs room. This room is for mother and me, the northwest room is [2]  for Helena and Dina. These two upstairs rooms are separated by a wide passageway from the other two upstairs rooms, opposite from ours. The southeast one is the bedroom of Dominie and Mina, and the northeast one is the study. You see, we live high and dry, but often cold. Much frost and wet wood, but I can still stoke a fire. The wetness will not be good for our Oggeltje. My room is the warmest. Often I have little Albertus with me and Annatje [Annalje] for help or assistant nursery maid. At the moment she is writing a letter in all seriousness to Mietje, and the little one is walking around, for Lena is writing and therefore she makes me a nursery maid. Late to bed, late getting up, that is here the unfortunate rule. I trust that all of you will hold to the opposite course. During my absence it is for me a joy to realize that my children in the meanwhile have good opportunities for schoolwork. Any loss of time in this would be very painful for me. I hope that you and Christina and Mietje will make good use of it. Sound study is more than capital. The opportunity to avail yourselves of such capital won't come again. I have heard that Rev. Brown has been there and has also preached. Share with me a few things about that. You ought to arrange it in such a way that you can be present at the Thursday evening prayer meeting. God is a [3]  hearer of prayers. Godly light, conversion is the one continuing necessity: the necessity that rectifies all things and gives wisdom. Tell me how it is with Frank and whether you sometimes go sleighing with the girls. How is it with Hekhuis. Do greet him for us. Especially greet Rev. Phelps and Lady,' as well as Rev. Vande Wall. Heartily greet everyone in the family from us. Our coughing is about over. We long for you all. Dirk, you must concern yourself with reading through the Sabbath School books. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and what a person loves and seeks forms his character. We expect several letters from you. Your father who loves you, A. C. Van Raalte [Revision of an earlier translation: Nella Kennedy, May 2006] I ACVR wrote ladij. Pella, Iowa, Feb. 7, 1861 Mr. Dirk B. K. Van Raalte, Holland v vl  Geliefde Dirk, Nu zitten wij in het mooije koude vent Pella en ofschoon geen gebrek aan bezigheden, toch zweeft onzen geest veel in uwlieder midden: Gij zoowel als de anderen kunt de afwezigheid verzoeten door veel te schrijven, en wel in den vorm van dagverhaal: dan kunnen wij als eens om het hoekje zien: - dan kunnen wij U zien zitten rondom tafel, dan weten we hoe laat ge op staat: dan zien we U naar school gaan met uw stapel boeken onder den arm: dan zien we U de meisjes een sledetourtje geven: dan zien we U de lessen bestuderen: Nu doe ons het genoegen ons de dagelijksche loop van zaken mee te deelen. Heintje en Ko Oggel schrijven staag aan Ds. Oggel, ik wenschte dat gij dit voorbeeld volgde. Op heden zit ik op de Zuidwester bovenkamer: deze is de kamer van Moeder en mij: de Noordwestkamer is die [2]  van Helena en Dina: deze twee bovenkamers zijn door een brede gang afgescheiden van de twee andere bovenkamers: die tegenover ons, de Zuidooster is de slaapkamer van Domino en Mina en de Noordooster is de studeerkamer: - Gij ziet we huizen hoog en droog maar vaak koud: Veel vorst en nat hout: evenwel ik kan nogal stooken: dat natte komt onze Oggeltje cliMr te staan: - Mijn kamer ligt het warmste: Vaak heb ik de kleine Albertus bij mij en Annatje tot hulpe of onder kindermeid: Op het oogenblik zit zij in alle ernst een brief aan Mietje te schrijven. — en de kleine loopt rondom want Lena schrijft en daarom maakt zij mij kindermeid. Laat naar bed, laat op is hier de ongelukkige orde. Ik hoop dat gijlieden de tegenovergestelde koers zult houden. Gedurende mijn afwezigheid is het mij eene verblijding er aan te denken, dat mijne kinderen intusschen goede schoolgelegenheden hebben: alle tijdverlies hierin zou mij zeer pijnlijk vallen: ik hoop dat Gij en Christina en Mietje er een goed gebruik van maken zult: Goede studie is meer dan Kapitaal. — De gelegenheid om U zulk kapitaal te verzekeren keert niet weer. — Ik heb vernomen dat Ds. Brown er geweest is en ook gepredikt heeft: deel mij eens het een en ander ervan mede. — Gij moet het zoo schikken dat gij Donderdagavond Biduur bijwoont: God is een [3]  Hoorder der gebeden: Godlijk licht Bekeering is het eene het blijvende noodige: Het noodige t welk alle dingen regt zet: en wijsheid geeft. — Vertel mij eens hoe het met Frank is: en of Gij met de meisjes wel eens uit sleeën gaat. Hoe is het met Hekhuis. Groet hem eens van ons. V .V.=voorlopig verslag (provisional account) or en volgende (bladzijden) (and following pages) Vooral moet gij ook groeten Ds. Phelps en Lady almede Ds. VandeWall. — Groet alle de huisgenooten hartelijk van ons. Ons hoesten is wat over. — Wij verlangen naar U allen. — Dirk gij moet zorgdragen de SabbathSchool boekjes door te lezen. — Vreeze des Heeren is het beginsel der wijsheid. — En 't geen men mint en zoekt vormt het karakter. Wij verwachten van U onderscheidene brieven. — Uwent U lielhebbenden Vader. A.0 Van Raalte [Nella Kennedy, transcriber: May 2006] Now, do us the and KoptOggel write pleasure of sharing with us regulary tot. Oggel. Pigh the daily run of things. Heintje  I wish you would Eollow that VAN RAALTE, A.C. VAN RAALTE, DIRK B.R FROM: PELLA, IOWA TO: HOLLAND FEBRUARY 7, 1861 Dear Dirk, Here we are in that nice, cold, distant Pella and although there is no lack of busyness, yet our soul floats much in your midt. You as well as the others can sweeten our absence by writing often, and in the form of a daily diary, for then on occasion we could look from around a corner. Then we could see you sitting around the table, then we know how late you get up, then we see you go to school with your stack of books under the arm, then we see you give the girls a sleighride, then we see you study your lessons. example. arid I am sitting in the south west upstairs room, this room is for mother C 31".9 and me, the northwest room is for Helena and Dina. These two upstairs rooms are separated by a wide passage-W.-ay from the other two upstairs rooms, opposite from ours, the south east one is the bedroom of Domine and Mina, and the north east one is the study. You see, we live high and dry, but often cold. Much frost and wet wood, however I can still stoke a fire. tt4 (.°1 (itpL The wetness .—diff-icult_ilox_our Oggelje. My room is the warmest. Often I htlf7-kyki44.4 have little Albertus with me and Annatje for help or assIstant ehitd=mard. At the moment she is writing a letter in all seriousness to Mietje,  and the little one runs around, for Lena is writing and a . Kg-at-4, Pft-e- a- the5_fore provddesme-a-child hanety Gfr( (Led Late to bed, late getting up, that is here the unfortunate procedure. I trust that you folks will hold to the opposite course. During my absence it is for me a pleasure to realize that my children in the meanwhile have good opportunities for school work. Any loss of time in this would be very painful for me. I hope that you and Christina and Mietje make good use of it. Good studies is more that riches. The opportunity to assure you of been there and has also preactted. t  You ought to arrange it, MD 124;otrl be present at the Thursday evening prayer meeting. God is a hearer of prayers. Godly light, conversion, is the one continuing necessity, the necessity that rectifies all things and giveSlwisdom. Tell me how it is with Frank and whether you sometimes go sleighing c.P° with the girls. How is it with Hekhuis? Greet him for us. Especially ft. C t-W-rtia greet Dr. Philps and his lady, as also Dr. Vander Wal.  Heartily greet -alb {1.-tni tip eWM0144klit4 East-wekt,  is about over. We long for you all. Dirk, you must concern yourself with reading through Sabbathschool books. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and what a person loves and 4  seeks forms his character. We expect etters from-ea-eh-of you. Your loving- father, 14,4 (.4-0-4.4 014-- A.C. Van Raalte such -r4ches won't come again. L.Q.4.2k t I have notired that DC Brown has Share with me a few things about that. •  _daleviat, _42- 9 es , SYL (A4)4,10461: zaez;r4d tkre_niat j 2 M4rt • sit2 444,04-d4Ant46-tealnYttipiefé a. - 1 iii4;&-14.4.8ds.: inadataate44,td at decena-1 27)",4, ari., dt-  &>#74-1 444.: a I Gim,Lacn2., 4,ili ctA ltt4/ Viess Li/ dart 4.•~~,-; • I. - il 1 2.0. £t &zcct 46.Jflt4t_ itee? gat-  e_ iikaitsi ii. 405 714,aLle -Sri naird. éLi.,..‘.., aditurat. d,.... latit-e.,,JaLsb-- teA,,, en ett../ /1 agar 2:44 (h&c °tat A.S ti,/ az.ii et eke's/ liveola g i  I ,  i  4 6X4e4,41 22 4 -air e4yaaW".4:.arddle.4)1444  trase e..d.CN oá- ernat.476‘  - 2(44~, e.4iin alakienianda 4/04.7" '661- : trid /2 cd- te. " 41,41L16.- vu-selheilatcciettLen,  f letkvifient4_ a", / knat-e-JR1 044c&Sedtèe‘teria.a.r cit%i ele_Ljrjefik;ea7.:' ileilidecLiterf  it/  ciijiLveL+.44. Litten/ ,ilin.;Aidigirtat-- 4417 fteetsitft tluArj,  ;24”1"1/71;:oL4 *mesa,/ teree.4-- 9o-ce4 /ijtat fee€L di di ii1stetat 414441.4  k 44.2 It14te. hei/S - -infitionLywasi 94,1--a6ianna h c_.....4•1 1„: autalay.  0-fra. bluer ef,.. andirtigs, fittaLL Lmapaideldraft-7 dal- 7  0 Or Ai.. gitiertilat; Stet itiragea-A.• catoSea, aealhan b"-~,/ ~•• Ste 714e114,-441. Q76c-Co k;,,Était eltiSlettet asidiSit 0 w - erinzintod.0rot *7 lanierfLe4,~:). 90 &a/4. at. ireeSien Lq e 4.4 ihc top 114±/da‘- i hi- tent4,44, daiti,vt ----) L,./....d..,,e,firL.,.4.2...,40/44 -ha_ alercn aid Waktisf wajd44/ 4 66}def freledec- Li gaschns Cli 'WM/tie/et- ptneta tees7.41fri a aa. JIM* rh,a_feL, 4/0-45/eaS, Altet iliteiddid4sedlt;,&• ittvrevyk 3:),„-A„ ca_e‘2 /3-22---7 / y VAN RAALTE, A.C. VAN RAALTE, DIRK B.R FROM: PELLA, IOWA TO: HOLLAND FEBRUARY 7, 1861 Dear Dirk, Here we are in that nice, cold, distant Pella and although there is no lack of busyness, yet our soul floats much in your midst. You as well as the others can sweeten our absence by writing often, and in the form of a daily diary, for then on occasion we could look from around a corner. Then we could see you sitting around the table, then we know how late you get up, then we see you go to school with your stack of books under the arm, then we see you give the girls a sleighride, then we see you study your lessons. Now, do us the pleasure of sharing with us the daily run of things..  Heintje  and Koos Oggel write regulary to D. Oggel. I wish you would follow that example. I am sitting in the south west upstairs room, this room is for mother and me, the northwest room is for Helena and Dina. These two upstairs rooms are separated by a wide passage way from the other two upstairs rooms, opposite from ours, the south east one is the bedroom of Domine and Mina, and the north east one is the study. You see, we live high and dry, but often cold. Much frost and wet woods, however I can still stoke a fire. The wetness is difficult for our Oggelje. My room is the warmest. Often I have little Albertus with me and Annatje for help or assistant child—maid. At the moment she is writing a letter in all seriousness to Mietje,  and the little one runs around, for Lena is writing and therfore provides me a child maid. Late to bed, late getting up, that is here the unfortunate procedure. I trust that you folks will hold to the opposite course. During my absence it is for me a pleasure to realize that my children in the meanwhile have good opportunities for school work. Any loss of time in this would be very painful for me. I hope that you and Christina and Mietje make good use of it. Gdod studies is more that riches. The opportunity to assure you of such riches won't come again. I have noticed that Dr. Brown has been there and has also preached. Share with me a few things about that. You ought to arrange it that you can be present At the Thursday evening prayer meeting. God is a hearer of prayers. Godly light, conversion, is the one continuing necessity, the necessity that rectifies all things and give wisdom. Tell me how it is with Frank and whether you sometimes go sleighing with the girls. low is it with Hekhuis? Greet him for us. Especially greet Dr. Philps and his lady, as also Dr. Vander Wal.  Heartily greet all the families for us. East—west, is about over. We long for you all. Dirk, you must concern yourself with reading through Sabbathschool books. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and what a person loves and seeks forms his character. We expect letters from each of you. Your loving father, A.C. Van Raalte 

A Letter of A. C. V. R. to His Son, Dirk B. K.

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A Letter of A. C. V. R. to His Son, Dirk B. K.

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