My dearest Calvin,

Your letter to Edna arrived alright on Saturday but the lazy little body finds great difficulty in answering. It seems to me I wrote you on her birth-day, and told you how well and happy she was on that day.

The next evening I was to speak at Knox Church here, but such a storm of wind and rain came on just at the time people could not venture out so it was postponed. It was warm as a summer evening and until Sabbath when it turned cold.

On Sunday I went out to Mineral Springs (Sulphur Springs) near Ancaster. The President who invited me Mrs. Shape has charge of the P.O. and her husband is Ticket agent and owns the mill with his father. Our meeting was in the house and the student who has been supplying all summer was there too, Mr. Christie, a young Scotchman who is putting in his last year at Knox, had not an opportunity of asking if he knew you. I went and came by T.H.& B.

Saturday was at Mrs. Sanford's to meet a Mrs. Birks who represents the Y.W.C.A. of Australia. Had a letter from Tom, he was to be in St. Mary's over Sabbath with Edie. There really seems to be nothing specially interesting to relate. The Y.W.C.A. is doing its best to raise $50,000 for a new building. The Y.M.C.A. want $ 30,000 for a one in East end. Then there is the Sanitarium for Consumption on the Mountain wanting money and Dr. Torrey is to be invited here for January, altogether one could wish to be a millionaire. But I am really feeling very contented in mind if I have not the money to give I have not the responsibility.

Edna is so well and merry and the whole family well, I feel there is room only for great gratitude. My funds are in good shape and Christmas is coming. By your letters, think you are feeling much brighter. Tom had a letter from David Ross, he is with a contractor in Saskatchewan, another change. Edna has just come up from the kitchen, she has been making a rice pudding and paring the potatoes, she is quite a help and it is good for her. We are expecting Miss Mckay for tea from Chicago, she is just visiting here (Mrs. Lauder's sister) and Mattie Davidson. I am also expecting Miss Gray to visit this afternoon. Am sorry to have so little to say, glad you had a taste of wild duck hope you'll get more. With much love from all.

Your loving mother

M.B. McQuesten

¹ For more on David Ross and his relationship with Ruby McQuesten, see, W5622, W6135. Mary had judged Ross to be a "restless jump-about" and this seems to verify her fears.