Letter by James Elton Blumell

My Personal Philosophy of Practical Guidelines for Life

By Jim Blumell

To My Beloved Children and Grandchildren,
I believe that we can do much to control how contented or happy we are, by thoughtfully and carefully developing and adopting our very own “philosophy” or a working guide which will help us to do some of the important things in our work, our play, and in our relations and associations with other people.


Sometimes I have played a little game of “let’s pretend” that has helped me at times. I’ve tried to apply this to the college teachers I had, some of which didn’t seem to have much to offer. When I’ve been honest and open, in every case I’ve found that I can learn a great deal from each of them, some stood above others of course. And you see, part of the reason for this was that I had to pay for my education and I wanted to get my money’s worth. I have suggested that my students try this pretending that Social Studies etc. was their favorite subject just for one semester. Many students hate subjects and teachers simply because their friends do, which is not a good reason. I have known this to apply to jobs. “You know that this job is not so hot, but it puts bread and butter on the table and pays the rent. I’ll do the best I can here until I find something better. Some people have testified that by playing this game their attitudes have changed. I am not making a case against improving your lot and getting some of the really fine things in life. But if we are not always expressing our discontents in life, surely we will feel better.
By referring to four of my favorite poems, I am going to state some of the principles that I feel might be usefully included in a “Philosophy of Life.”
Robert Frost 1874 – 1963
The first of these poems is “The Death of the Hired Man” by Robert Frost. It is written in easy conversational blank verse. Unrhymed iambic pentameter of blank verse is the language of Shakespeare (the most beautiful language of all; the language of kings) but Frost has adapted it to fit the conversation of a plain, hard-working New England farmer and his wife. The poem is classified as a dramatic dialogue and involves Warren, Mary and Silas the hired man. All we know is revealed through the conversation of Warren and Mary, man and wife.
Because of the rocky soil and small acreages, conditions were always difficult for New England farmers. Silas was an expert hay pitcher, was adept at ditching the meadow, was difficult to get along with and frequently left at harvest time when help was needed most. To Warren, who was reliable and loyal this was extreme disloyalty and he vowed he could never return.
The final conversation revolves around the question of whether Silas should be readmitted to the household – a conversation pitting Warren’s realism and deep feelings about disloyalty against Mary’s sensitivity and thoughtfulness. In the end the warmth and understanding between husband and wife comes to the fore and Silas is welcomed home.
This poem may be an example of the difficult evaluation which may be necessary before we can forgive and love again. The irony of the poem is that Silas was readmitted to the human family just as he died. A side light may be that Silas, in spite of his lowly status, had tremendous pride – why did he walk five miles past his rich brother’s house to come to Warren and Mary when he surely knew he was dying. Finally some of the most tragic and pathetic lines of poetry are Mary’s summing up of Silas’ life.
And nothing to look backward to with pride.
And nothing to look forward to with hope,
So now and never any different.
Poem #2 The Cotters Saturday Night by Robert Burns (1759 -1796)
(A cotter was a poor Scottish farmer)
Burns was born in poverty, had little education which he supplemented by the reading of the bible, newspapers, books and poems. He was plagued by heavy drinking which was probably responsible in part for his early death at the age of 37. His poetry was essentially democratic in tone. “A man’s a man for a’that”. After his death he was instantly honored by all Scotland and he is perhaps more widely loved than any Scotsman.
I call the “Cotters Saturday Night” the first family home evening and indeed it seems almost a perfect example of what we try to do on that important night. His father was an exact copy of the cotter. The cotters of Scotland always struggled mightily to earn a bare subsistence. They, like some of the farmers of New England were cursed with a land of “much” rock. As a result, the older boys and girls were farmed out to the neighbors to earn a meager but important addition to the family income. But on Saturday night they were allowed to return home for the week-end and what a pleasant event it was. Burns records some of the activity as follows:
With joy unfeigned, brothers and sisters meet,
And each for other’s welfare kindly speers (asks)
The social hours, swift-winged, unnoticed fleet………”
There is time for mother and father to admonish
Their children to work hard and fear God always.
And Jenny’s boyfriend drops in for a visit.
Later they gather round the table for a supper of
Wholesome “porritch” and a sip of milk.
After which they all gather in semi-circle when the
Fathers opens with patriarchal grace the big “ha” bible (we

have one) lays his bonnet reverently aside,

selects a portion with judicious care and says

“Let us worship God” with solemn air….

And Burns sums it all up in these memorable lines:


“From scenes like these old Scotias grandeur springs,
That makes her loved at home, revered abroad,
Princes and lords are but the breath of kings,
An honest man’s the noblest work of God.”
The beliefs practiced by these hard working people is sometimes called “The Protestant Ethic” – work hard, take good care of your means, and live a moral life according to the bible.
Certainly it is a challenge for any family to achieve the good things that Burns so effectively portrays in the “Cotter”. Certainly his “joy unfeigned” and “an honest man” lines will stand out anywhere.
Our third poem, perhaps Brownings most perfect lyric, is a song sung by Pippa, a young worker in the silk mills of Asola, Italy. Pippa is a light-hearted happy girl. (I think of Amber) who spends her one holiday a year travelling the city and singing. She sings four songs, one at morning, noon, evening and night and unknown to her in each case she helps an important person in a crisis of their lives. The first song “Song from Pippa Passes” introduces the four.
The years at the spring
And days at the morn;
Mornings at seven;
The hillsides dew-pearled
The Larks on the wings;
The snails on the thorn;
God’s in his heaven-
All’s right with the world!
Like Byrd in Antarctica, Pippa instinctively feels that there is a Supreme Author of the beauty and order that surround her. And this little poem is a marvelous acknowledgment of God’s handiwork.

The Miller of the Dee

I owe no penny I cannot pay

I thank the river Dee

That turns the wheel

That grinds the corn

That feeds my babes and me.

This is a simple little poem but it expresses a powerful message. May I comment on the setting of the poem. It is beautiful and picturesque. Can’t you see the tree-lined streams and the sparkling clear waters as they cascade over the pool where the water is deep and mysterious. No doubt some great trout lie in the depths, with the possibility of delicious fish fries to add to the whole wheat. And the wonder and power of the great water wheel which turns the ponderous stones where the grain is milled.

The miller no doubt is a jolly fellow, full of optimism and faith. Isn’t it refreshing to hear someone just brimming with thanks because he has everything necessary for happiness – a job he loves, a pleasant wife and family, and enough money to serve his needs. “I owe no penny I cannot pay”. What a great statement of economic independence. Money troubles are the cause of more marriage failures than any other reason. Governments, including those of Canada and the United States are so engulfed in debt that they are threatened by absolute money disaster very soon, if something radical isn’t done. But we still demand more government handouts for every economic failure. A common reaction is when the government has announced a billion dollars to assist drought stricken farmers is: “It’s a good thing but not enough!” How wise is the old miller in his attitude towards the danger of debt and the freedom of monetary independence. How greatly it contributes to the stability and happiness of the home. And isn’t it refreshing to find someone so frankly grateful for the blessings that are his.

May I summarize briefly.

Frost was involved with the question of “Who is my neighbor and when do I admit him into my home? Warren and Mary were widely separated in their views of what should be done with the disloyal and irresponsible Silas. Because they had a warm and loving relationship for one another, they participated in a long and thoughtful discussion of all the issues, avoided the emotional dangers of anger and finally made their decision on the side of mercy. This is the kind of decision making that is necessary to keep our marriage on track and the kind that is so sorely lacking in many instances.

The cotter is the hero of our Saturday night happening because he was Burns’ father. Hard working, thrifty, frugal, and God-fearing, he tried (with the aid of a faithful wife) to instill these same qualities in his children and he seems to have succeeded to a remarkable degree. How happy we are if there is love for everyone in the family, if we have a common attitude toward hard work and the use of money. And most importantly of all, if we all sense the importance of continually trying to improve our religious and spiritual living, one step at a time so that we may be able to achieve our lofty goals.

And what a challenge it can be for us to be pleasant rather than frowning, to be positive rather than the opposite. Perhaps we can like Pippa, unconsciously spread our glad song of life, to make the world more pleasant.

Perhaps the greatest gratitude the “Miller” possessed was his thankfulness that his strenuous but meaningful work earned him sufficient for his needs. And his knowledge that he like the old Cotter, knew how to manage his resources wisely, made him contented with a very modest income.

And there are other important aspects of life to be addressed. I suggest that it may be helpful if each of us prepare his or her blueprint of life to help guide us on life’s journey.

I testify to you that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and is the complete blueprint for meaningful living. As we study and pray and live righteously we more fully realize our ultimate potential.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With sincere love

Grandpa Blumell

P.S. I have the most wonderful wife in the world. I love her very much. She is the beautiful Mary Margaret.