Young Peter Boyer in love

Peter and Alma Boyer on their wedding day, April 26, 1920

I found the letter transcribed below among my mother's things in a small packet of letters she had labeled "Important." It was written by our Grandpa (Peter) to his brother Sam in 1921 on the day before Peter first became a father. When he writes, it is 10 months since he and Alma had been married and they are living in Harrisburg not far from Alma's mother. It is Alma's time and the decision was made for her to have the baby in a hospital. Peter, now alone at home and full of anxiety about the childbirth and the trauma his new wife is undergoing, does not have the luxury of calling his family. So he pours out his feelings in this letter to his younger brother. The next day he finishes the letter with news of the new baby.

We are so used to thinking of Grandpa as a wise and seasoned father and grandfather. This letter reminds us that he too was once a young man anxiously contemplating what it would mean to be a parent and hoping to live up to his new responsibilities. It is also a moving account of his and Grandma's first reactions to their new little one.

I don't know how this letter ended up with my mother, but I can imagine that at some time Sam came across it in his saved correspondence, and thought that either Grandpa or Mother would appreciate having it. Either way, I am grateful. Sylvia

Harrisburg, Pa Feb 10-21

Sam Old Boy,

I have wrote many letters to you under almost all kinds of circumstances. But never like this. I took Alma to the Hospitle at three-thirty this morning (The Doctor took her in the car). In a few hours She will be a mother. But oh, Sam the agony the uncertainty of those hours. Sam can you imagine what I feel like here by myself in the early morning hours. With the little girl that means more than life to me there among strangers suffering the worst pain a human being can suffer. And facing — God Sam I cannot write it. I never knew what that little Girl means to me. It would be a thousand times easier to be with her and go through it all with her than be here by myself. Why did I send her to the Hospitle. Well for many reasons. It is almost impossible to get a nurse. And roomes are a very poor place for a case like that, you haven’t got the roome. And last but not least. They can give her better care there then she could have had at home. And no matter how serious the case, they can handle it there, which they can’t always in a home.

How lonesome and dismal it is. It is raining. It is a quarter to six and there is no sign of Dawn. I could not go to bed after I come back frome the Hospitle. Am writing just to have my mind on something. I wrote home and now I am trying to get a letter together for you. This may seem funny to you Sam but you cannot imagine what it is like til you yourself go through it. So much depents on the next few hours. Why can’t a fellow look on the bright side and expect the best. But somehow all kinds of things come into my mind I can’t help it and they drive me nearly crazy. Yet there is nothing to do but wait and trust in him that rules all things.

How weak we are Sam when we have health and everything. We never think of him who is responsible for it all. But in time of sickness or trouble He is the first one we turn too and the onley one who can give us consilation. And he never fails. Well I will finish this letter later, and tell you the good news.

Feb. 11, 8 p.m.

Well Sam a new Page of this life was opened for me today. It is a Girl born at eleven oclock and weigh 5 – 8-1/4 Pounds. Alma wanted a girl so bad and I am glad she has her wish. Why Alma is good. The little girl has dark hair and large dark eyes like its mother. Yes Sam a little life that I am responsible for. And I hoap that God give me strength and understanding that I may teach it the right Path in its youth. Give it teaching that will impress it through life. May God give me strength and wisdom to bring it up and teach it like our dear Father taught us and I will be satisfied.

Yes Sam I have enjoyed a happiness you have not. I cannot describe the feeling when first I looked upon my child. There was a strange feeling, a pain around my heart. I couldn’t talk. I don’t know if I was supposed to make a fuss over it or not. If I was, the nurse must have been disappointed. I don’t remember now what I said. Sam it was a feeling I cannot describe and you cannot understand until you yourself have experienced it which I hoap you may someday.

When I seen Alma I bauled like a kid Sam. When I come to the bed she looked up at me and smiled and asked if I had seen it. Her face was white as a corp’s there was lines in her face. Telling of the awful agonies and pain she had suffered, was even then suffering. But the brave little girl was satisfied. The child lived and she had her wish it was a girl.

I had decited to go in with a smile on my face and say cheering words. But as I bend over her and kissed her lips, her little arm stole around my neck. I couldn’t hold back the tears to save my life. She didn’t say anything, her arm crept a little closer around my neck for she understood.

There are five episodes in my life. But the last one is greater then the other four put together. First was when I discovered that I loved her. I was happy then at times but the uncertainty of it often caused more pain than happiness. When she promised to be my wife my happiness new no bound and on our wedding day I knew I could not be happier or thought I couldn’t. But that night Sam when I held her in my arms and realized that she was on the borderland of womanhood about to step out of girlhood never to enter it again. There for the first time I felt that pain at my heart.

Sam you have held your little wife in your arms that you thought you couldn’t hold her tight enough, that you was afraid to let her go for fear something would happen. But today as I gazed on that little girl who had just come back from the gates of Death, there was a feeling come into my heart I never felt there before. A feeling you cannot realize until you realize what it means to bring a child into this world. Bill told me about it I thought I knew what he ment but I did not.

The nurse brought the child over to the bed. It was crying a little. She laid it on Alma’s arm and the child was quiet. Alma said do you know your Mother already. How strange yet how good it sounded. And there looking at my wife and child I felt a happiness I never felt before and somehow my whole life is changed. There is new joy in life. I can heardly wait till they come home.

Alma will have to stay down there about two weeks. And believe me it is some lonesome around here. I am going to keep bachlors hall. Well I suppose you are getting tired of my raving. But I am full and just have to let some of it out and there is nobody here to talk too.

I don’t know if this is a surprise to you and Edythe or not it is supposed to be. It was the reason we did not make that visit this summer. We was saving the cash and believe me we need it now and more too. I am still out of work. I earned a little over three dollars yesterday helping to paint a fellows roofe. That is the first money I earned since the last of Dec. But now that Alma and the Baby (Does that sound funny) are safe I am not worring. We will get along somehow and work will brighten up sometime. Then look what I will have to work for. Extra expenses too you say. Yes but it is worth it a hundred times.

I may be able to come home {note: to their mother’s home} when you do I will try at least. I sure would like to see you and Edythe both.

I will close now and write Alice a letter and by that time it will be time to hit the hay. With best regards to Edythe I remain your loving Brother Pete

P.S. Why we haven’t named it yet, will let you know later

Letter is addressed to: Mr. S.P. Boyer, 126 Hawerton Ave., Catasauqua Pa

Return address: 621 Muench St, Hbg Pa

Postmark: Harrisburg, Feb 12, 3 p.m. 1921

U.S. postage: 2 cents

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