Koamalu : a story of pioneers on Kauai, and of what they built in that island garden / by Ethel M. Damon. [Vol. 1, no. 2]

GROWING UP

555

Lihue, March the 6th, 1861.
My Love,
I had such a wee bit of a visit with you this afternoon that I
feel we had just begun to talk, but I'll try to feel grateful that I
could see you at all, for I did not expect to while Mr. Hoffschlaeger was here. Dear Paul, I am so glad that I know some
at least of your pilikias, poor boy, these little "blisters" of feeling
are so hard to bear with a right spirit. How much need you have
of patience, for try as we will, someone will always find fault with
us. Courage, dearest, the "darkest night is just before the day."
I was speaking with Papa and Mamma this eve regarding Mr.
Hoffschlaeger's proposal to lease Wailua in November, but did
not feel at liberty to say much. They talked somewhat of leasing
it........ Of course you will talk freely with Papa before you
commit yourself to any bargain.
Paul, now please don't laugh at me, now please don't, for I
want to tell you something I want, though it may not be for a
long, long time (I hope not though). I want our wedding to be
the quietest and simplest one imaginable. Church Weddings are
almost out of the question here. Lizzie Johnson of Waioli has
always had the promise of attending my wedding, and the Doles
too, of course. But it is not necessary for me to invite anyone
else, unless Dr. Smith should be our minister, then he might bring
any member of his family he chose. I think Mr. Dole expects to
be our Minister, as I am a member of his church. You of course
can ask your most intimate friends, not many though, "mind you,"
and so we could avoid much expense. My dress shall be neat, but
cheap. Yours must be ditto. We don't need any parade, for
beside hating "scenes", we shall have happy enough hearts to
like it best. And beside my principles on the subject, I want to
show "folks" that it need not cost a young man or woman so
much as their "calculations" to get married. Let's be models in
one thing, Paul beloved. Now please don't laugh, though I am
planning so far ahead. Something just put it into my brain to
tell you a plan I thought out and have told my mother and sisters
of and they like it too, so it only remains for you to like it, and
for the time to come. Oh dear! Ah well!