9/25/34 EC's letter: "To tell you just what I get out of
your Life Reading would be too long a letter. That there are
many centuries that elapsed from one appearance to another is
not unusual in this information, for one reason, as the
information says, there may have been and possibly were other
appearances during that time, but the activities at that time
or at such an appearance was not of a nature to be of any
great influence in your experience just at this time, any
more than any one day you attended Dallas Academy has an
influence on some problem that you may be working in physics
now, but there may come a time in your experience that what
you gained at that time or the experience that you had will
be necessary as the background - do you get me? Not that you
were not needed in the world, but you did not need the earth
forces so much.
"Well, you know yourself as to whether it is you that the
information is speaking of. You know as to whether there is
a response within yourself to the things that it tells you
about, and apparently, from what you say, there is quite a
bit that fits so well that there must be something in as to
how the rest fits in also - don't you think so? There are
many things, of course, that are rather startling, don't you
think? There are others that indicate that you are just
right in staying on the road that you are at this time, and I
am in hopes that you will be able to follow it through
sufficiently to get that which is to supply the basis for
your development at this time.
"If there is any special thing that you want to ask about on
any special appearance where we may have had readings where
others were included in that appearance, we will be glad to
give you such information as we have. The activities of the
group that you were no doubt associated with may be of
interest to you."
12/19/34 Mother [
2457]'s letter: "Many of the students want
to know how [
259] rates so. Can you tell them? [
259]
attends to the records in all the Physics classes and is very
popular. She has been mistaken for a Fellowship student by
many of the Seniors there."
1/30/35 Mother wrote that [
259] was not able to return to
school due to lack of finances, but she hoped to go to summer
school and then to resume classes at the university in the
fall.
8/24/35 Miss [
259] wrote: "The way things look now, I won't
go back to school this fall. Maybe it's a good thing, for I
believe Daddy [
3657] is going to need me at the store. He's
sick but he won't give up. He hasn't actually relaxed for
more than a few hours at a time in four or five years. And
he's getting old, too. If we fix it so that I run the store
and he is in it only three days a week, say - for testing
eyes and such, by appointment - but in these southern towns
people don't like to make appointments."
8/30/35 EC wrote: "Appears too bad that you can't make it to
school when you wish to. [
259], why don't you go and talk
with the Hon. Sam Hobbs? There is a fund provided by the
Federal Government for those who want to go to school and
can't make it. I'm sure you could get him to work it out for
you. That should be one of his duties, to at least tell you
how it works. Guess he is home now, as Congress has
adjourned. Try it. I know there are some here who are
making use of it."
4/08/36 A prayer written by [
259] at 1st Christian Church
before meeting:
A PRAYER
"Strengthen and guide us" -
How often are the words repeated
But behind them - does there lie
A heart with passion heated.
A passion for true leadership,
The leadership of God,
To direct one and guide him,
In the way Christ trod.
We pray thee, Our Father,
That every prayer that rises
Is from the heart of a true man
Who God-guidance prizes.
We pray thee, Our Father,
That thou will see fit
To lead all those who ask thee to,
And help us all even a tiny bit -
Onward 'til we can glimpse thy face,
Then we know the fullness of thy grace,
And we shall be content to know the race is won,
And rest in the assurance Thy will
Shall be done.
12/12/36 She wrote: "Sure, I'm in love [with [
1324], a Jew]
- and the funny thing is that I know very well that I
shouldn't be. Sometimes I wonder if Mother's opposition has
anything to do with it - I know that it doesn't, but it's a
thought in passing. First thing, he needs me...but on the
other hand I need him." [3/38 Young Mr. [
1324] died of T.B.]
4/12/37 She wrote: "I leave for ... next Sun. the 18th.
Dr. [...] at [...]'s is to be my boss. Just how it is going
to work out, I don't quite know. He seems to think I can
learn all I need to know by being at the office
3-4 hours a
day and studying all the other time. Perhaps so. We shall
see. By the way, he is Pres. of the board that I will have
to pass. I hope that's a boost. Dr. James H. Tinder
[optometrist] of B'ham has practically retired from active
business. He actually retired some yrs. ago and then found
that he couldn't stay away from the shop so now Dr. Merrell,
the sec'ty of the board, is running Dr. Tinder's place for
him in Tinder's name. I was in B'ham a short time ago and
had a long talk with both of them. Things look rosy if only
they stay that way."
1/13/39 She wrote: "My office is at last opened. Local
wiseacres want to know if it is the Hot Stove League, or an
optometrical office. I have them quietly hushed by a sign on
the door, Dr. [
259], and also cards, one of which I am
enclosing. Things are kinda slow right now, but I guess that
is to be expected with a new office, etc."
1/22/39 She wrote: "I told the local pres. of the HSL that I
have to hire an assistant to look after the optic office
while I work on baseball. It isn't really as bad as that."
4/13/39 She wrote of recuperating from malaria, and doctors
ordering her to give up her office work.
5/19/39 She wrote: "I do manage to work in Dad [
3657]'s
office a couple of hours daily."
6/39 Wire: "Greetings to one who is like a Dad to me."
5/03/40 She wrote that her uncle was ill and she had to work
in his optometric shop a few hours daily.
9/22/41 Mother [
2457] wrote that [
259] had changed to a
better job, more pay and better working conditions, in a big
city: "All new material, handling 'Shur-on' material and the
optometrist going to the Navy for six years at least, and
seven and a half at the most, so she has a job as long as she
wants one."
10/01/41 She wrote EC: "For some unknown reason I am reminded
of a sentence I ran across in a text book on Optics the other
day. It appealed to me strongly for it reminded me of a
conversation I overheard one June afternoon back in
1926 - you and someone were discussing matter and time and
space - 'The importance of matter is apt to be exaggerated
simply because it appeals to our peculiar senses' - Southall
is discussing the relative minor part the eye itself plays in
sight. After all it is previous experiences and reflexes
from the other senses that causes us to see things as we do.
A person can have a perfectly normal eye mechanically
speaking, it can be refractively speaking, absolutely correct
in every detail, yet, the person can't see - why? the nerve
does not have the seeing habit, and doesn't know what to do
with the light stimulus. Just give it time - a matter of
months sometimes and you can develop the seeing habit.
Sounds reasonable when you stop to think of it, but who
does?"
1/11/42 she wrote: "I wish with all my heart you were here
to talk over what I am about to do. I've told you about
[H], so there's no need of my going into the many reasons I
have for loving him. Sometime soon, possibly before the
month is out, we will be married... I shall continue
working, for it is entirely possible that he will be called
in the next quota... There's mutual respect and admiration
which I believe are necessary for a life together. It will
be 'for keeps.' Something may happen to to change our plans,
but that's the way things stand today."
1/14/42 EC wrote: "I believe your Life Rdg. spoke very
definitely about this. Please read it again very carefully
before making a final decision. We have recently seen in
[
852]'s case what happened when she did not take the warning
- something that should never happen to a lovely, sweet girl
like that. She is finally back in line...
"I am sure you have thought it through, but think and pray a
bit more after reading your Life Rdg. again. If then he
measures up, fine and dandy. Know that I am with you and for
you, whatever decision you make."
1/18/42 Miss [
259] and Mr. [H] were married.
1/20/42 She wrote EC: "Yes, I had thought the life reading
and all that it said concerning same. Yet sometimes, we want
things so badly that even in the face of almost certain
disaster, we try for them, and sometimes miracles happen, and
we attain that which we want. I sincerely hope that such
will be the case. I know this much, I entered this new phase
of existence with my eyes opened, doubly cautious and I'm
testing every tread before I step. I told you about [H] in
the letter I wrote just before we left for... Mother's
reaction to her new son-in-law will possibly tell you more."
1/22/42 Mother [
2457]'s letter: "I think [H] will fit into
our family just fine... You rate Al with [
259] and then
some; she loves you, she values your opinion. Let situations
like this be continual, forever - and that is a LONG time."
1/23/42 EC's letter to [
259] and husband: "Though I am not
acquainted with [H] as yet, I find him in possession of one
who has been like a daughter to me. I am sure he must be one
of the finest fellows ever, else you would not have chosen
him. Of course I might run on and give each of you a little
sermon on marriage. I think I have a wealth of information
from my experience, in meeting and guiding several - yea,
many - through the readings; but I'm sure you are both
levelheaded, you know what is right, and you know this job is
a lifetime affair, it is not a one-sided affair at all. Just
let each see how much joy you may impart to the other in this
business of living, and there will be no doubt of it being a
success...
"Love, joy and happiness to each of you - and may you each
find in one another that which will make you all the bigger
and better in every way."
6/07/42 She wrote: "[H] was drafted in spite of the ...
shipyards and such, and reported on June 1st for induction...
To say I've been miserable is putting it mildly... I've had
such a lost feeling all of my life. Then suddenly this past
winter I found someone who cared more than anyone else, and
the last few months I've been happier than ever before. I
belonged to someone who loved me as no one else had ever
done. He made me feel that I meant more to him than anything
else. And now - almost as suddenly as it started - 'this
dream of mine' is stopped - but for a little while. We can
only hope that it is for just a little while."
6/11/42 EC wrote: "You will just have to encourage [H] so
that he will have something to look forward to when it is all
changed... For your own sake as well as his you will have to
do it. Know that all will come out right in the end, and
that you can never lose that which really belongs to you.
Write me whenever you feel inclined to do so - glad to have
you weep on my shoulder - and can weep with you for I know
just the heartache that is there, and that lonesomeness that
knows no satisfying - but by faith you can and must see the
light. So hold tight, and read chapters Deut. 30 and John
14, 15, 16, 17, not as rote but as something spoken directly
to you; for that they are - those verses - to every soul of
us here in the earth at this trying period of our lives."
8/04/42 She wrote: "I spend my spare time crocheting. I've
started a bed spread, a table cloth and a luncheon set. All
different stitches and different weight threads so when I get
tired of one I can switch over to the other. And I'm also
working on a crocheted rug. Then I've bought a few small
pieces of furniture that will fit into most any room, and am
painting them myself and making new curtains, and generally
changing things around. For this winter I've bought or
rather ordered several books in optics and am going to catch
up in the graduate work - see if I can't get a class started
here, and if not, join the one in New Orleans as associate
member and attend when they have clinics or special features.
I have plenty planned to keep me busy...
"[H] wrote me for a pocket testament. Now we both read the
same chapter every night. We started with Romans and plan to
go through to the end, then come back and read the gospels.
Knowing that he is reading the same thing I am makes it like
a visit - and we feel closer together. Yep, still just as
much in love as ever - maybe more, if that is possible."
9/08/42 She wrote: "With my Spanish class, and the clinic in
N.O. once a month, I'll have my hands full this winter."
11/04/42 She wrote: "[H] is safely over there - 'somewhere in
England'."
1/19/43 She wrote that besides her daily job as an
optometrist she was going to night school: "I'm still behind
in school work - taking advanced physics, and it advanced a
bit more rapidly than I did the first few weeks of this
term."
3/23/44 Mother [
2457]'s letter reported on [
259]'s recent
illness, hemorrhaging from the throat, saying: "I think a
good bit of [
259]'s trouble is WORRY. Things are not what
they seem with the OTHER HALF. [Her husband [H] overseas.]
Well, we can't do anything about that."
4/09/44 Mrs. [
259]'s ltr: "[H]'s A.P.O. no. was changed
recently. Just what that may mean I haven't found out. As
far as I know he's still in England."
6/03/44 She wrote: "Me and the 'preacher' of the Old
Testament are both calling 'Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.'
I'm not exactly on top of the world this morning. When
mother gets up there, she may have an opportunity to tell
you a few things that will unravel all these riddles I write
in, but the root of the trouble is something not exactly
writable. That's the main reason I would want to come up
there in the next week or so - to have a chance to talk
things over with you and see what your angle on the
situation would be. I've argued with myself over it, I've
prayed over it, and the only answer I seem to reach is
'wait' - You know I never was much on that waiting business,
and I'm having to learn. It's been two years now, and still
'wait' is all I do."
6/10/44 She wrote: "How right you are that things aren't as
they should be! I had a letter from Mother yesterday in
which she said the best thing for me to do is quit thinking
about it - I could manage the 'quit breathing' edict better,
I do believe. Just when I think I have the situation licked,
something else will bob up and bring all the rest with it.
Too many times previously I've tried to combat personal
problems by running away from them. This time, I'm going to
stick it out and finish it myself. And for the first time, I
get advice to run - a crazy old world, we live in...
As you say, you belong to heaps and heaps of people, so let's
reverse the order, and don't you worry over me. I've always
had a peculiar feeling that no matter how dark things looked
to me, they would brighten some day, with God's help. So
far, they have, and I believe as long as I have that feeling
deep inside of me, they always will."
7/07/44 She wrote: "I would love to know each one's reactions
to the other [H's & Hugh Lynn's if they meet in England].
One of the boys who was in [H]'s outfit, but has since been
transferred back to the states for further training wrote me
quite a bit about [H] and his job and all about the bunch he
was working with. I learned more from that one letter than I
did from fifty that [H] has written. [H] is one person who
really doesn't know how to write. He says three things in
every letter (1) I am well, tired, or sleepy. (2) I will be
so glad when all of this is over and I can come home. (3) I
miss all of you so much. And that is generally all. Only
when I write asbestos lined letters does he break down and
answer any questions I might ask."
Sometimes I shudder to think of the two strangers who will
meet when he comes home...but that is crossing bridges before
the road reaches them...and it can't be done successfully.
So...I'll wait. And patience has never been one of my
virtues."
1/23/46 Mother [
2457] wrote: "[
259] has been in bed since
the middle of Dec. ...The doctor won't let her up for
another month and I am here to stay until then. She can't
even get out of bed for bathroom 'exposures'. Her husband
[H] came back after 39 months abroad, mostly in England. He
has his old job back with the ... Shipbuilding Co., but it
was hard for him to keep on the job and see after [
259]."
7/22/46 Mother wrote: "Had a letter from [
259] and she told
me to get out a copy of her Life Rdg. and see how it was
being fulfilled."
2/14/58 Mother [
2457]'s letter: "[
259] is optometrist at ...
She has a son nine, weighing ninety pounds, also a son five,
who had spinal meningitis at eight days and is still an
invalid."
3/27/87 JT's note: The following is excerpted from a
February 1984 letter from Mrs. [
259]:
"...I was right there at the time [...] was born - just as
Edgar Cayce was there at the hospital the day after I was
born. My parents and the Cayce's were close friends in Selma
and I spent many a very happy day playing behind the
backdrops in the photographic studio there.
"I was one of the hard to convince, stiff-necked individuals
who thought she could manage things her own way. Well, the
night my husband dropped dead, Edgar Cayce stood at the foot
of the bed and told me 'This door closes, another will open.
Go get your life reading and read it.' It took me some time
to get up the nerve to contact Hugh Lynn...and a full ten
years before I went back to the Beach and visited [A.R.E.]
headquarters. Then things really started to happen. Both
sons died within a year, and here I am trying to put the
pieces together in some sort of way."



Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation