My dear dear boy,

I was very glad to hear of your being safely back in Toronto from your election excitement. You say "woe is my country" after your experience. I say the same after my missionary meetings in the country. Yesterday I went down to Grimsby. It was a bright afternoon and I enjoyed the ride on the car through the country; it must be most beautiful in the summer, such fine residences with their acres of fruit trees and vines. As I told them at our meeting, what lessons lay before us of the bounty of God, of His marvelous love and care for us, the time & thought expended by Him in giving us such wonderful variety in the products of the ground. I stayed at a Mr. Van Duzer's who has a fruit farm. This morning I called on Mrs. Murray (the widow of the old minister, who was at Grimsby over thirty years), and took the 10:30 car home.

Have just heard from Cal. Wasn't it terrible to think of poor old Mr. MacKay! Poor Maggie will be more worried than ever. Mr. Colquhoun has been taken to the hospital again, his neck was too bad to be attended at home. They have written for Emily & Kate.

Well, we are all prepared for winter. Our double windows are on and we have our supplies of butter & potatoes, the latter are $1.10 a bag, a fearful price. Dr. Fletcher is really giving up this year; we hear they are going into their own house in January. Charlie M. is keeping all right at present.

By-the-way Hilda and Grace Rioch are going down on boat to-morrow (Friday) and if you wished to send your trousers up to be let out by Booker, you could leave them at parcel room on wharf. Macassa leaves at 4:30. I will tell them to call on chance, perhaps you could mark in some way where they are tight; and they could be ready for Thanksgiving. I am afraid Booker is very forgetful. You must try & call at Mr. MacKay's next Sabbath, I do not want you to lose your good character with him. How glad we shall be to have you both home for Thanksgiving. I have already ordered the turkey. On account of your lectures you will I suppose need to go back on the Thursday evening. What time can you come Wednesday? Well dearie, hope you are well in every way. Must catch the post. With kindest love.

Your mother

M.B. McQuesten