Letter designated Box 12-428 was found enclosed in same envelope at Whitehern Archives.

Dearest Calvin,

Well here we all are except Mary whom we expect to-night. Unfortunately it is just pouring rain. Edna and I came on Thursday, just a beautiful day. The cottage is very nice and comfortable. I have my bed in the sitting-room and I can talk to Ruby whilst I eat my breakfast in bed. Ruby is following Dr. Arnott's prescription and is dieting to see if she can get rid of the acidity. It had helped very much and she is feeling very comfortable, but she only takes hot milk, and a slice of toast, three times a day, and that is very little to build up strength; so I am anxiously awaiting results. She says the fever has been lower since stomach is better, so that is encouraging. Hilda says to tell you what a fine invention were the cases you fixed and Ruby wishes me to thank you for the book you sent on her birth-day and also says how finely the fuchsia is doing, it has thrived greatly and is just a beautiful plant with fine large flowers. The pelargonium also looks healthy.

We had some lovely days this week, but now it is raining again preparing I suppose for to-morrow, have had a succession of wet Sabbaths. Mr. Graham, I saw to-day for the first time, a very nice kind man; he was telling of his visits to Mrs. Thompson the daughter of Sir James Whitney, she left "The Minnewaska" to-day, her case is now hopeless. Mr. Graham had conscientiously gone to read to her and she seems to have been pleased, she is only thirty, has two little children whom she must leave with her father and mother, her husband being a good for nothing, who did not come near her. A brother of Harvey Gunn has come home from the West very ill with some trouble of the spine. A married man but not the doctor who, I saw, married the other day a daughter of Rev. Martin late of Exeter.

Edna is enjoying the change very much, the air gives her such an appetite; she is at present relating tales to Ruby and Hilda and they seem to be in fits of laughter. I am hoping when Mary arrives, she will bring a letter from you, your letters posted on Tuesday 24^th did not reach me for 10 days and I suppose it will be the same this time; when you wrote on a Monday I got it the following Monday.

The mosquitoes do not trouble us much in the house, but they are swarming outside the netting round the verandah, it is a very cosey one, have only had to use the awning twice since they came up, but needed it very much at those times and it fits perfectly, it was clever of you to take such correct measurements.

Mrs. Thomson fairly loaded us with gifts for Ruby, a lovely green tea-pot with cosey and a beautiful cup and saucer with spoon two fine towels and 2 cakes of sweet soap, a pound of tea, a loaf of her own bread, half-doz. oranges, a pine-apple, a book and a letter, like another Christmas R. thought.

Tom had finished the Exam papers before we left, which was quite a relief. And I had a visit from Mr. Cook one of your Knox Class, he was staying with Mr. Russell of Erskine, who brought him down, he asked what you thought of Williman getting the church?

I am so thankful we were led to take this cottage and get R. away from "The Minnewaska." I only hope her stomach is not ruined already, I think the feeding was not right at all. Before Lady Whitney left, she gave them a regular setting, her daughter was so neglected. Miss Perrot was brought in at the last as a night nurse and she was treated very badly by the others who did not relieve her at all and Mrs. T. could not be left a minute; hers was asthma.

Well, Cal. dear, I hope you are getting along nicely and preaching the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. A lady asked the other day if Mr. Ketchen was a Unitarian, as he was always preaching about Him as an example. Did you see in a brief editorial on the controversy between Mr. Rohold and a Rabbi a statement that Christians now generally believed, that Jews were saved? Is not that a very extraordinary statement. On wonders what will be said next. All join in best love and hope you are well and happy. With much love

Your loving mother

M.B. McQuesten