Hepburn Street

March 22nd /82

My darling Lucy,

Father and Susie are going to a tent meeting at Newmarket this evening – Fred is in town making arrangements for going on survey in the morning by the six o’clock train. I am alone just now having just returned from Vincent Street. I went to get a wash for Fred’s mouth which has been sore for some time – though I am thankful to say he is getting better.

But now before I go any farther dearie I must answer your letter. Every day I am more convinced that what we all need to do is to live God’s word. Go to the word for guidance in everything. Since our great trial has been on us I have seen as I never saw before how wonderfully God’s word meets all our need. I do not mean in the way of comfort so much as in guidance – it is wonderful oh dear that your plan as well as my own is to take that word & seek in the Lord’s strength to live it. Don’t let the enemy hinder. I think the fear you express lest you are more anxious to please others than the Lord is a temptation to keep you from doing what is pleasing to the Lord. Try and put self out of sight. It is no easy task but I think the more we are taken up with pleasing our dear Lord & Master the more we shall forget ourselves & the more we shall grow like him reflecting his image so that there will be no mistakes as to whom we are serving. I never forget you & dear Arthur & Emma when in prayer. I never allow myself to think of seeing your dear faces again but I still hope on. We may all meet in the glory sooner than we expect. Father, Sue, Ada & I were out boating today in one of Captain Lane’s boats. Capt. L. belongs to our meeting & commands the “Myrtle” brigantine trading between Auckland & Samoa & Tonga. He & his wife are such nice people. He is a strong, big man, not stout, & she is a little gentle creature. Captain Lane went with us for a while, then we landed him at the railway wharf & went for a lovely sail. Father enjoys it so much & he is very careful – there is no danger at all. I wonder if Emma remembers Mrs Shaw & her little boy James who went as far as Nelson with us when we went down to Invercargill. She used to dress E. & Fred. & help all she could. She has been married for years to a Mr Macky a nephew of Mrs Alexander’s who was a widower with one little girl. Poor Mrs Shaw was a widow when we knew her first. Mr S. was killed by the Maoris while working on his own farm & she had to run for her life with her wee boy – they lived at Taranaki. James grew up a bright intelligent boy, devoted to his mother but was suddenly cut off with fever when only seventeen. Poor Mrs M. nearly broke her heart when he died, and now they have fresh trouble. Mary Macky her stepdaughter was drowned while bathing at the Thames on Saturday, 18 years old. They have now only one boy about 9. When I was at the Thames I saw them all. Mrs M. said to me then – “Few women have gone through as much trouble as I have”. It is wonderful how much some suffer.

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Father & Susie are home now so I must stop. We must go to bed for we must be up very early – so good bye my darling. Give my special love to our other dear ones. May the Lord bless & keep you near himself is the earnest prayer of your loving

Mother.

Very sorry about poor little Bessie