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March 1913

…Ralph returned to work, but I think he had been laid off at Garfield and had gone on to Johnson to find work, but had not been very successful for I wrote this letter to him

Monroe, Utah

Mar. 1, 1913

Mr. Ralph Collings

Johnson, Utah

My dear sweetheart:—I was indeed sorry to hear that you had to meet with another disappointment so soon. I couldn’t sleep at all for thinking about the first night I heard it. They say life is a dear school and by the way things go you ought to get something out of it. Well, to my notion, mistakes, failures, and bad luck are a great deal better than nothing! They at least show a willing heart and hand and when we show our God that we are working for some purpose if it is ever so humble he will indeed help us. You are no doubt anxious to hear how we are getting along at home, we so far have had no luck at all.…

.…With great big love and lots of love and kisses from your Darling Nellie and babies.

Amy’s x x x x x x x

Dallin’s x x x x x x

Wardies x x x x x x

Little Nell’s x x x x

I got to thinking about all Ralph’s disappointments so I started composing a poem and finally came up with the following:

To My Dear Husband

When you go to your work in the morn, go with a brave cheerful heart,

Remember that half of the battle depends on the way you start.

At night when your work is over, and you sit and think o’er it all;

Let no shadow of sorrow or regret on your bright pathway fall.

But each fair day that you’re toiling for dear little babies and me,

Just think how I long to be doing something, “My Sweetheart” for thee.

We can’t do much toward helping; in fact, there’s only one way,

And that is to love you forever, ‘Say Papa’, How’s that for pay.

Monroe, Utah—19133

Nellie and Ralph Collings shortly after their wedding, 1906

Computer scan of Ralph and Nellie’s original marriage Certificate, 10 January 1906.

Note her signature in the lower left-hand corner, clearly reading Nellie Eliza Hunt.

3. RWC’s transcription gives 1914, but Nellie’s journals place the poem directly after her letter of 1 March 1913 to Ralph at Johnson, Utah.