My dear Mother,¹

We received your communication a few days since, and indeed it came from the depths of winter. You have your trials--trials which none but one can know--the Searcher of our hearts and the Redeemer of our souls. We are enjoying here a precious season. The Church is awakening--Meetings every evening this week, yesterday all day being Fast, preparatory to the Communion and to day again three sermons. Tomorrow six will join the Church and Brother Edward [Lerned] is one of that number. Dear Mother he seems ready harnessed for the work his heart is all engaged in the great work of winning souls to Christ and tho' but a babe himself. Yet the silence of midnight and even before the dawn of morning the Church is visited & prayer goes up to the throne of God. Yesterday a Female prayer meet. was held in my room between the hours of 12 & 2 about 20 attended tho' mostly people from a distance. The meetings are good--sermons sharp & powerful. Oh that the lord may come to his mercy seat & awaken every cold professor--alarm every sinner even to the awakening & conversion of their souls. What do we live for? The judgement day will disclose.

Mother it seems as if you had been tried & sometimes to you it must seem like fiery trials & in the furnace of affliction. How do you take these things? Oh! that they may refine you, as gold is refined! and may this strengthen and encourage you, "that through great tribulation we enter the joy of our Lord. The feebleness of yr. frame--your pains & sufferings--speak louder than words that soon all will be over--is it so? Can I realise--could you but realise it--should we not be up & doing our Master's work--should we feast on every worldly hope while our immortal souls were heaping up wrath against the days of wrath. Oh! no! we should be engaged--we should live for God.

Monday morn. Yesterday was in Com. & E. [Edward] joined the Church. He has now covenanted before angels & man to serve the Lord: He appears well, tho' we do not approve of telling him so. People are pleased with him. The church in particular. They frequently tell me of little anecdotes of him--one which two of the elders told me, "They went by day light to the church to consider what measures to take during the meetings, soon Ed. appeared & one says, my lad what brings you here so early this morning. His reply was I have come to find my Saviour." He takes a part in the social prayer meetings &c. But we must look to the Lord for help. The adversary may hold him from the way of duty, and he may grow cold like many who profess to serve the Lord, while it is evident by their fruits they do not.

Monday noon--A few sisters have just left from a social prayer meeting. Ed. has just gone saying if you will go this PM I will harness but shall not, as I must write, & I get so tired going all day. I never heard a more powerful discourse than this morn by Rev. Mr. Barge, who has written on the Atonement his farewell discourse, & all were affected.

My dear Mother how is yr health? How are the dear sisters? Oh that they may show a good kind heart in being obedient to their widowed Mother. It is the fifth commandment & may it be written in their hearts. The rheumatism is hard to bear, & it seems you are afflicted with it, with all yr. other troubles, but while you are laid by with it from yr. other cares, may the design of our Creator be effected, [?] soul enriched with the bread of life.

I had a long letter from Catharine, she was well, & told me the news you had just written her. I don't know what to say about E's. affairs he will write you himself.

Mrs. Berry is well, called here Saturday. She is going to write to Mrs. Towne and it is a great "wonderment" why she does not write her she cannot devise any reason, and says it is very strange. Mr. B. was here an hour last eve, he is making money--& he takes his comfort, the boys saw & split the wood, and are quite active. Mrs. B.s. babe is very pretty, she confines herself very much. Urania is the same--tho' I think she grows old. Are you not sick of snow drifts? I am glad we can see each other's [?] here, beside peeping from a drift. Mr. Sandborn said he saw sheep browsing upon top of apple trees!! My dear Mother, we must not be too much encouraged on account of what God has manifested unto us lest we be puffed up and think we have nothing to do--but oh! let us be humble! prayerful! watchful! That we may have greater blessings & see the salvation of many souls.

Your affec. daughter

Margarette B. [Lerned] McQuesten

¹ Mrs. Catharine Lerned is not Margarette's biological mother but her step-mother. The family members do not seem to distinguish full siblings from half-siblings and mother from step-mother and treat each other with equal affection. To learn more about Margarette Barker Lerned [McQuesten] please see W0609.