1898
United States, Canada
September 21st, 1898
Halifax, Nova Scotia
My Beloved Angee,
Your very welcome letter of the 9th is just to hand and is a great comfort to my heart in finding that you have been able to get out for a little walk – although your appetite according to Miss Brittan's report is not yet first class yet you are able to take a good lot of nourishing things. The visit of your dear sisters will be a cheer to you I am sure and a good tonic too I dare say. It is a great mercy of the Lord that you have been so far restored as the cold had taken a terrible grip of you as the cough indicates. I often blame myself for not bringing you back to Barnstaple from Taunton earlier so as to have medical aid and then things which might have helped you – however it is a lesson and you must keep within the walls of your own house now where you can get all the care and attention you need. The time will soon pass and D.V. I shall be with you again – there will be one month nearly gone by the time you receive this – I saw by the papers that it was very hot again in London but I hope I shall never have to endure such a time as we had in New York again – my previous letters will have informed you of it. Now it is quite changed and this morning I was glad to put on one of my thick flannel shirts and have worn my overcoat all the day. We had a good meeting at St John last Lord's day evening but none of those who had promised to come from Carvill Hall put in an appearance. I left St John early on Monday morning and enjoyed the trip across the Bay of Fundy – the route by rail along the Annapolis Valley to this city is very fine – it is called the Evangeline route – Sir Walter Scott's Evangeline is descriptive of this valley, of which the Nova Scotians are very proud – the weather was fine and not too hot. Being recommended to a similar house here to the one I was so comfortable in at St John I drove up to it on my arrival and am equally satisfied with it and very much prefer it to hotel life – the table here is most home like – cooking perfect and food of the best. At St John my bill for 5½ days was $9.52 – a little under £2 – about one quarter of what I should have paid at the fifth avenue. The visitors are a nice class of people – really good families. If I could find them out I would always use such places.
My business has not been so good here as at St John but I have a little for each house & purpose getting on to Quebec on the 23rd – the meeting here is very small and in great weakness – I went to the room last night thinking it was the prayer meeting night but found the place closed – subsequently I called upon a lady who is with them (a Miss Church) and found that the meeting night was Wednesday instead of Tuesday – Miss C. is an elderly sister and she was very glad to have a visit. I did not write to Mrs Veal as I felt it was better to leave it in your hands. I am surprised that M. should act in this way. I should advise your dropping Mr Veal a line giving M. a certain time to pay what is due or you will be compelled to so act in a way which would be painful to both.
Sept. 22nd 1898
I am very glad you sent dear Arundel a trifle – one of my recent letters to you suggested the thing which you have done. It will be a nice change for Daisy under the circumstances and if she comes I hope she will apply herself earnestly to the work before her and with other duties would it not be well for her to have a few music lessons. You will be able to help her in many ways and impress her with the importance of always speaking truthfully and being sincere not saying behind another's back what she would not like to say before their face. There has been I think a little failure in these things and no one is so well able to correct the dear child as those who love her – I quite feel for her in the painful circumstances at home, but as the Lord's she must look to Him for grace to accept the trial, leaving it to God to make all things work together for good to them that love Him. Some things came up during the few days I was at Harry's which I was grieved to hear – things Daisy had said about Angie, so I thought it well just to give you a hint that you may be able to speak as a mother to the dear child. You must not send this letter away for others to read. As I read your letter now to hand (Sept. 9th) my first from New York had not reached you, but by this time (22nd) you will have had several – I will endeavour to send you one bi-weekly.
Thank the Lord for His great and tender mercy in so far restoring you my darling wife and for the loving hands around you to minister the creature comforts you need.
Thro' mercy I am in good health and enjoying the work – it has been an especial mercy and an unexpected one too, to have been thrown in the way of these boarding houses – wish I knew of one at Quebec where I go D.V. tomorrow. A few of the saints were at the prayer meeting last night – all told two brothers and three sisters, nothing to boast of as few as numbers were concerned but we had a real time before the Lord and purpose coming together again tonight. Once more commending you to the care of our God and Father and all our beloved ones – kind love to dear Martha if she has returned and to any enquiring friends and with much to your dear self believe me.
Ever your affectionate Husband