Urker Nov^r 18th 1879.

My dear Minnie [1] ,

 

            I am glad to learn by yours of the 11^th that the children are better; and that you are calmer than you were. Oh my dear, submit to every dispensation of the All wise, and All merciful! Only think that great as your cause of sorrow is; how much worse it might have been! You have lost a beloved and respected Mother [2] . Well, in the course of nature; she would have been removed before many years [3] . You have lost a dear Brother [4] ; what if it had been a dear Husband? Where there is hope in the death of friends; the sorrow of survivors is but unselfish sorrow. Yet it is both natural and [lawful?]; Jesus himself wept at the grave of Lazarus.

 

            I now send you the promised books, twenty three in all. Two are for yourself; the rest are for the children; with Grandmother’s love and her fervent prayers that the books may be blessed to their edification and Christian instruction. They are all Christian books but one “Esop’s fables”; but I believe it to be one of the wisest books ever written by an uninspired author. Two of the books are not bound, as I could wish; but inside merits must make amends for the outward defect. What advantages the children of the present time have over those of former generations; in the number and variety of suitable books! My mind in childhood was nourished solely by Watt’s hymns [5] , Esop’s fables, and the Shorter Catechism. These were the only books I had besides the Bible. A limited library; yet many a heart-headed and stout hearted man and woman did they help to train. I send you all three, for old times sake; the two first will be available at once; your children [6] are too young yet for the latter; but you may read it yourself; and any thing in it, not proved by the Scriptures you need not believe. It is the most admirable compendium of Christian doctrine I ever met with; and for more than two centuries has been esteemed and taught in all Protestant Churches over the world.

 

            Nothing new has occurred since I wrote last; we are all much as usual. Tom [7] seems anxious about the payment of our rent here; tell him that it is by the advice of our Solicitor M^r Bailie [8] ; and with the concurrence of the agent M^r Brooke [9] that it is not paid until the new lease has been granted; and we could pay it before night if required. We have often and often informed the agent of our readiness & willingness to pay. David [10] went to Castleblayney about it last week. Messers Brooke & Bailie promised that all should be settled before Xmas. The promise is probably sincere this time; for so little can be got from the tenants this year that they will be glad to catch it.

 

            I feel for your Brother [11] in going back to Yokohama. Could it not be arranged that he should be sent to some other place?

 

            I hope your Sister [12] is well; her trial was even harder than yours. She saw the suffering that you only heard of. But you and she will comfort each other.

 

            With love and blessing to you all; ever dear Minnie,

                        Your affectionate Mother,

                                    Eliza Jackson