Pat Rafuse recently discovered an envelope of letters from Nelson. I wonder how many more such envelopes are still out there? Here is a sampling of their contents, arranged in convenient categories:
Wind and Waves
Wednesday Night, May 7th 1986 - Perhaps i should be very excited: There came, before dark, a boat from Winstops at the south end of the island telling me that a tidal wave is coming. And now, after dark, one of the Coast Guard boats came and they say there is a warning out; it is overdue, and no report on it up coast. You would think there would be reports about the wave’s progress all along the coast, so maybe it is a practice… The time for the big wave is now past and i am tired and i am sleepy, so Nighty Night. [Next day:] Mary had sent up a Banfielder Paper and i had read in it about their Search and Rescue group in Banfield and how sometime they should get together with the Coast Guard and put on a practice act, so i guess they did. It wasn’t funny.
What weather we are having—Winter and Summer all in the same day. The poor little hummingbirds—i fear for them as there are so few flowers out.The reason Mary never came yesterday: there has been one storm after another and there was still a storm warning out for the biggest of all storms, which never developed.
Wednesday Morning: The South East wind is here again: during the night it was singing about the corners and eaves, and now all the trees are waving their arms as they dance in joy and praise God their Maker.
Thursday Morning: Another South Easter in the making. Seems my No. 1 sin is discouragement. People like to come here in the sunny summer time, but how many ever give it a thought how things are maintained here. Something like a few years past, some lady asked, “You don’t have to pay any taxes here, do you?”
Plans for Copper Island’s Future
One of my desires is for Copper Island to be a haven where the tired, the despondent and the mentally [unhealthy] can come to find rest for their souls in Jesus. Of course, not everyone would profit by a stay at Copper Island. There are some who would be the worse for it.
Mary comes tomorrow. The Lord has renewed my vision for Copper Island. Rich Parlee and Bill Irving brought 4 officers of the Canadian Sunday School Mission for me to turn this place over to. In a previous letter to Rich, i had stated that i was not to have the place registered as a Bible camp because i had been advised and warned by a Russian minister that if it were so registered with the government, it would be right in line for closure when the evil time came. i was at fault that i never mentioned this at our meeting. i did mention that i would want to go down to the waterfall to live. They all thought it would be dreadful to put me out of my house. Seemingly, they could not understand that that was my No. 1 desire. i guess i was a bit outnumbered—they got me to sign a will to them just in case i was to die before the property was duly signed over.
After all these years of praying for someone to take over here, i should have been very happy, but i wasn’t; i was very dejected. i went to prayer over the whole matter, and after, i wrote a letter to Rich telling him the whole deal was off. The Lord renewed my strength and vision. After that, and not knowing anything about the CSSM group, a young man from Port Alberni in the Lord’s service wants to bring children and do work here. Then a letter from my son says they are interested and a man of his congregation is keen on doing things here.
My vision is to develop the waterfront and have a little shop to make toys and plaques to be given out to missionaries, etc, to be given away free to the poor and the sick in the name of Jesus.
On the 12th of April, as these men were leaving, Mary arrived. She was quite put out, says that if they have this place no one else can come. Seems some years ago in some place up north, she had an encounter with the CSSM. Seems strange that she likes Copper Island so much and yet she doesn’t want to get involved. Perhaps if it were under different management she would be interested. This place has many possibilities: Cabins for the weary and dejected to come to. People with small pensions could live very nicely here. One family could live here and grow a garden. Another family could live here and fish. Another family could make wooden articles. Another such as the Howells could do their blacksmithing here. That then makes enough kids for one woman to have a little school and teach correspondence and Bible as well. What a great place for artists to ply their trade.
By the help and will of God i hope to see a small Christian community made here. Already there are young couples interested in the vision:
i do have some good news—in May, Arrowsmith Church young people want to come to Copper Island, some 15 or so and my two grandkids also, Leona and Brian. So far, i am on staff alone. Mary seems uninterested to join the Copper Island Mission. When i look in the mirror i can see the reason why.
One of my desires is for Copper Island to be a haven where the tired, the despondent and the mentally [unhealthy] can come to find rest for their souls in Jesus. Of course, not everyone would profit by a stay at Copper Island. There are some who would be the worse for it.
Mary comes tomorrow. The Lord has renewed my vision for Copper Island. Rich Parlee and Bill Irving brought 4 officers of the Canadian Sunday School Mission for me to turn this place over to. In a previous letter to Rich, i had stated that i was not to have the place registered as a Bible camp because i had been advised and warned by a Russian minister that if it were so registered with the government, it would be right in line for closure when the evil time came. i was at fault that i never mentioned this at our meeting. i did mention that i would want to go down to the waterfall to live. They all thought it would be dreadful to put me out of my house. Seemingly, they could not understand that that was my No. 1 desire. i guess i was a bit outnumbered—they got me to sign a will to them just in case i was to die before the property was duly signed over.
After all these years of praying for someone to take over here, i should have been very happy, but i wasn’t; i was very dejected. i went to prayer over the whole matter, and after, i wrote a letter to Rich telling him the whole deal was off. The Lord renewed my strength and vision. After that, and not knowing anything about the CSSM group, a young man from Port Alberni in the Lord’s service wants to bring children and do work here. Then a letter from my son says they are interested and a man of his congregation is keen on doing things here.
My vision is to develop the waterfront and have a little shop to make toys and plaques to be given out to missionaries, etc, to be given away free to the poor and the sick in the name of Jesus.
On the 12th of April, as these men were leaving, Mary arrived. She was quite put out, says that if they have this place no one else can come. Seems some years ago in some place up north, she had an encounter with the CSSM. Seems strange that she likes Copper Island so much and yet she doesn’t want to get involved. Perhaps if it were under different management she would be interested. This place has many possibilities: Cabins for the weary and dejected to come to. People with small pensions could live very nicely here. One family could live here and grow a garden. Another family could live here and fish. Another family could make wooden articles. Another such as the Howells could do their blacksmithing here. That then makes enough kids for one woman to have a little school and teach correspondence and Bible as well. What a great place for artists to ply their trade.
By the help and will of God i hope to see a small Christian community made here. Already there are young couples interested in the vision:
- Jim & Sarah Badke
- Neil & Kathy Harmsworth
- Wayne & Mary Lou German (Seattle)
- Bernd & Sylvia
i do have some good news—in May, Arrowsmith Church young people want to come to Copper Island, some 15 or so and my two grandkids also, Leona and Brian. So far, i am on staff alone. Mary seems uninterested to join the Copper Island Mission. When i look in the mirror i can see the reason why.
Letter from Earl & Judy of the Nanaimo Native Church wanting to bring a camp in July, so that is indeed encouraging.
i asked [my family] what people truthfully think of me here and why no more groups come to this place:
- People think i should sell this place (God’s Property) and move to town.
- This place is so isolated that if someone got sick or injured there is no way to get them out and besides, it is too difficult to get here.
Rich Parlee has been here twice since their school let out for the summer and he believes there is hope for Copper Island.
A beautiful day and i worked all day at the mill i am making out of the big old Pioneer chainsaw which Brian gave me. If this place it going to thrive, one must have lumber, you know. i have a vision of a Christian settlement here.
The reason i turned down giving this property over to the Canadian Sunday School Mission (one of a few reasons): i said i would move down to the waterfall. “Oh no, you shan’t; you will stay in your own little house, etc, etc.” So my Irish was stirred up and i called the whole deal off.
Projects and Tools
So i am working in the shop these winter-summer days. i bought a bunch of sockets and am making a case for them so when the busy time comes they will be handy.
Well, my job is coming along but slowly—i need lots of patience to get things cut right and together. Maybe i should be back at swilling the swine, feeding the chickens and milking the cows.
Monday Night: Sunshine all day. i was at this and that and then Snuggles and i went to Pebble Beach and there we found a tyre on a wheel—ask Ron or Van Heck if it will fit their truck: Dunlop 600X20, and it looks like it was never on the road. For now, i must see if i can get something to eat—not being a cook, a wonder i never starved ere now.
Besides all the big and little projects, i now have a fine wheel and air tyre which i hope to build into a Copper Island Special wheelbarrow.
With the extra-high tides, today on the last one i finally got the floatshed up much higher and better than i had expected, so i am thankful for that. Now i can go ahead and make it a woodshed (much needed after 20 years without one).
Well, i worked on the lathe today—it has to have a seat on it to run it from, and the seat must adjust three ways so to fit long-limbed and short-limbed people. Now would it not be more proper to say “long roots or short roots” since the said limbs are on the lower butt end?
Quite often, i wonder what sort of transportation and power will be in the millennial period—i can’t imagine under the perfect rule of Christ that they will be using those stinky, noisy infernal combustion engines. Wood-burning steam?
Mrs. Wickham is 83 years old, and if it weren't for Mary’s care for her, i wonder if she could stay alone. i made a plaque for her, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Mary said she likes it so i made a bluebird house for her to have put up in the spring.
Monday Morning: Earl & Louise Johnson expected to show up here either last month or this month, so i shall look for them when they arrive. And when they come, they are to discuss with me the carving of something for the Nootka Mission. What it is i do not as yet have a guess. Pray for me to be given the ability to do this, as i have very little confidence in my ability. When i see the work of the Masters, i feel very low.
[On building the Empress Room]: Now i must be out and at the building. All day up and down, in and out, over and under the rafters, and i am feeling a bit tired. But the day was beautiful, neither cold nor too hot, and i am thankful for the work accomplished. Also, having to hew the rafters out, i am thankful to have a sharp little hatchet. Think of what a job it would be if i had to use a stone adze.
Wednesday now—another fine day to do more work on the Empress Room.
Thursday morning—Started raining during the night. Yesterday, i started putting shakes on the roof of the Empress Room. Has sprinkled and rained most all day. Rather damping my interest, but no excuse to be idle as there are lots of inside jobs. Later this day i took the Shinanagan [small dugout canoe?] and went to Pebble Beach to get an old plank. Going was rather hard against a southeaster just springing up, but coming back was easy with wind and wave wafting me along. i actually enjoyed the outing—wind, rain and all.
Yesterday, Mary was interested to see the winch. i have put another axle and wheels at the back end as well as the front and now it is much easier to move about. It will be very necessary working at the waterfall.
A Dream
Thursday morning, the sun is out bright and it is hot hot; both Snuggles and Hawkshaw are on the bed gasping for air. i slept very well, but [here he appears to describe a dream he had] what i am hearing sounds like Chinese talk, “Quaaa jung jung, quaaa jungoooooo.” So i get up and look out—all i can see is tall buildings and the water just full, just packed with big old sloppy junks and sampans and Chinamans and Chinawomans and Chinakids all over everything. So i just want to go down to the shop and get some kindling to cook something and here all over the stairs are great heaps of kelp and starfish. And right on the canoe—the Fort James canoe you gave me—a mermaid, yes, a real slimy drippy mermaid, and she looks at me and says in proper London English, “Did you have a good crossing last night?” Oh, [i was glad] to be back on dear old Copper Island.
Visitors
i had a letter from the Camerons saying that as soon as the boat is in the water, they will come to visit me. That should be any time now as Harmsworths said it is now in the water, so i am keenly looking forward to their arrival. Amy [age 3 at this point] wrote a bit in a letter to me in a secret code which only we know.
i have a letter and a Ucluelet paper from Camerons. The boat is now in the water and Don is going trolling. The paper has a picture of the boat and it looks very good. So i am sure thankful and pray the best for them. They are indeed a special couple and deserve all the blessings coming their way. Another little Cameron is expected to arrive end of this month. They have fine-looking offspring—the Irish.
Well, at long last i was pleasantly surprised when Clan Cameron arrived in the able ship Nelson E. Dunkin (blush blush). Sure good to have them: Don, Patty, Amy, David, Joshua and Patty’s two brothers, Wendell and Patrick.
Well, here it is Sunday and we three hermits are here by ourselves—all company away to their own homes and pursuits. This summer many fine people have come to visit me and i do appreciate every one of them and their kindnesses to me, but still there lingers that emptiness and feelings of being an outcast. Mary came yesterday bringing mail and good eats but as usual she had to hurry away.
[About some new visitors]: Anyway, they sure flattered this lonely old hermit—if i were half what they said, i would be simply marvelous. What am i in God’s sight?
Now i feel bad and yet i feel good: A troller stopped in on the way out to fish; he has been here before, very friendly, gave me fish on his way into town. Now there is a young dame with him, and i must say they are very worldly and their speech is grievous to me. How i pray those people could know Jesus other than a name to swear by. Two Vietnamese boats also travel with this boat. They stopped in but went right away for Banfield to take on fuel for an early morning start. So i sent a note to Ostroms for Mary to bring up oil and gasket shellack. Now we will see if it will work—this communication system—otherwise, it will mean waiting for another week.
It would be wonderful if you could come visit this miserable, mean, stingy, crabby, cantankerous, moth-eaten, lonely old hermit.
i have a letter and a Ucluelet paper from Camerons. The boat is now in the water and Don is going trolling. The paper has a picture of the boat and it looks very good. So i am sure thankful and pray the best for them. They are indeed a special couple and deserve all the blessings coming their way. Another little Cameron is expected to arrive end of this month. They have fine-looking offspring—the Irish.
Well, at long last i was pleasantly surprised when Clan Cameron arrived in the able ship Nelson E. Dunkin (blush blush). Sure good to have them: Don, Patty, Amy, David, Joshua and Patty’s two brothers, Wendell and Patrick.
Well, here it is Sunday and we three hermits are here by ourselves—all company away to their own homes and pursuits. This summer many fine people have come to visit me and i do appreciate every one of them and their kindnesses to me, but still there lingers that emptiness and feelings of being an outcast. Mary came yesterday bringing mail and good eats but as usual she had to hurry away.
[About some new visitors]: Anyway, they sure flattered this lonely old hermit—if i were half what they said, i would be simply marvelous. What am i in God’s sight?
Now i feel bad and yet i feel good: A troller stopped in on the way out to fish; he has been here before, very friendly, gave me fish on his way into town. Now there is a young dame with him, and i must say they are very worldly and their speech is grievous to me. How i pray those people could know Jesus other than a name to swear by. Two Vietnamese boats also travel with this boat. They stopped in but went right away for Banfield to take on fuel for an early morning start. So i sent a note to Ostroms for Mary to bring up oil and gasket shellack. Now we will see if it will work—this communication system—otherwise, it will mean waiting for another week.
It would be wonderful if you could come visit this miserable, mean, stingy, crabby, cantankerous, moth-eaten, lonely old hermit.
Daily Life
i didn’t put on a fire (have it all laid out so in the morning all i need to do is put a match to it) so now i will eat my bowl of granola and go to bed before i start shivering.
Saturday morning: A good night’s sleep. Dark the sky and cold the north wind. Sun out now and very nice. Mary here now so will get this on its way to you.
Well, i manage to keep busy, and still the work and correspondence piles up, up, up. If you know of a good-looking stenographer, one who is pleasing to have around and who is able to take off her boots and socks and operate a second typewriter with her toes, please send her C.O.D. at once.
Well, i just finished oiling a piece which i did to give to an old Christian up town who is just waiting, with liver cancer, to be called away unless Jesus heals. This is one of those days when at times it is difficult to see the dividing line betwixt sky and sea. Makes me feel like going to the hollow log and telling Bruin to move over, i’m coming in too. Now IF over at the waterfall [my house] was built, i feel that i would have a different outlook, with warmth and electric lights and power and lots of work to do.
Sunrise Cove – Sunday July 20th this year. Two boats going back to the fishing lodge came in and gave me two fish and were interested to look at my canoe. Jack Hobbes came in on his way back from Banfield and i gave him the two fish as i abhor seeing food go to waste. i took the two fish as, if i didn’t, they might never give me fish again.
Mary Scholey
Friday Night: Captain Dave of the Coast Guard and deckhand in, with 2 loaves of bread, quart of milk, 6 monkeyfruits and the mail. Mary sent them in case she can’t come tomorrow.
So will close now in case Mary, God bless her, comes tomorrow and can get this letter on its way to you.
Friday Morning: Cold, wet and bleak. Have had my breakfast—had hamburger and potatoes and whole wheat bread toast, but no one with whom to share, Mary brought the hamburger on New Year’s Day, but as usual (9 years now) could only stay for 5 minutes.
Over three weeks ago now, Mary has sprained an ankle and it is still paining her. She should go to town for an x-ray but it seems she is unable to get a ride in. After hauling people in and out of town for twenty years, there is no ride for her now. Could it be that she is asking too much?
Saturday when Mary arrived, she had no bread as the store was out of it. The Lady Rose was across the channel in at the fishing lodge, so nothing would do but she would dash over and get a couple of loaves off the boat. Lord bless her. She didn’t make it but she was visiting with the new management. The lady was baking bread, so when it was born from the oven, they offered to bring some over to me. So later that day, they did come with two fresh loaves. Their name is Clinton; they come from Alaska. She is quite a large, good-looking girl. They have 2 children. She originated in Oregon. i do not know, as yet, if they are Christians. They did not stay long as some boat seemed to be having some trouble out in the channel so they went to see.
The Lady Rose came in, and all for the best, as i built a one-room dog dwelling for one of Mary’s dogs and was looking for the boat to take it down as it would be too awkward to load in Mary’s boat. Now what do you think of Mary? All the forsaken and abused dogs come to Mary for help and she now has four. Gives me an idea—do you know where i can get a dog hide? Even a wolf skin might do. Monday the 23rd will be Mary’s birthday and i hope she will like the gift i made for her.
Now, this Monday morning, had i the power, i would summon all the song birds on Copper Island, and as they perched on every bush and twig, i would say to them, “My dear bird friends, today is Mary’s birthday; go fly to her cabin and all together sing your sweetest, ‘Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Mary, happy birthday to you!’ And when you are finished your songs, come back as i have a hundred weight of bird seeds for you all.” (Alas, it won’t work. Who is going to keep the nests and eggs warm while they are away in Banfield singing?) “Skip it, birds, skip it!”
Got the water on heating to take my bath—looking for Mary tomorrow, you know.
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