My dearest Cal.,

Your letter of the 9^th seemed to come very quickly it reached us on the 14^th. I forgot in very last letter to mention, that R.[Ruby] received David Ross's letter with yours. Shortly after I gave it to her, I found her tearing it to bits, did not know if she was pleased or displeased, looked the latter, said she had not heard from him, since she was in Calgary, I said, I wondered he had not written long ago, but she would say nothing; to-day I asked her, if we would acknowledge it or tell you to do so, but could get no satisfaction, she said, he knew she was not able to write & "there was no use in your butting in." ¹

I was relieved to hear, that you quite agreed with us about not going to Arizona, had an idea you were building greatly on R.'s going there. I am thankful to have come to a decision, for the indecision was wearing me out. R. has been having some very good days and I feel we are just in the hands of God, and He will do right; these months have taught me resignation for which I am very thankful, as it keeps me from being so painfully nervous as I was.

R. had a letter from Mr. Rose at Ottawa, amongst other things said that the Chinaman Leung Yieu, who was such a fine Christian and a very superior man, the gentleman of their class had died in China on June 15^th. He was the one who taught R. her Chinese speech and gave her handsome presents, the silk umbrella and shawl and amethyst brooch, he had a wife and children in China.

We had some cold days and nights and had our self-feeder going, but to-day it is beautiful and warm. We try to amuse ourselves going out in the boat in the afternoon or to the village but the evenings are trying, for Edna particularly, who does not want to read or sew. I get a warm stone and wrap myself up thoroughly so I can sit out and read to Ruby with the lamp on the shelf, which she enjoys very much. Do not trouble returning letters unless I tell you, but I am going to send you "Life of Faith" with an account of Keswick meetings, when you are through, post it to Mrs. James 15, Woodlawn Ave. Last week's British Weekly with Whyte's address on James Fraser was very uplifting to me, the Christian Life is a constant struggle and it is comforting to hear how others found it and how they finally overcame.

You can just cut it out and keep it for me. This week's paper with David Smith's sayings gave me a new idea why John said "There shall be no more sea." It never came to me before. I could quite enter into John's feelings one would get desperately weary of the sea, it makes one feel so lonely it would be desperate to be on an island.

I am glad to say Edna still likes being here and keeps well.

[Your loving mother

M.B. McQuesten]

¹ For more about Ruby's relationship with David Ross, see W6135, and also see her biographical sketch by clicking on "Family" on the Home Page and then on her picture.