My dear Calvin,

You should have had an acknowledgement from me before this of your very interesting letter. We only had our meeting last evening, as it (the letter) came just too late for our last meeting, so I thought I would write after it was read. I read it to the best of my ability, and everyone expressed great pleasure with it. It was so natural, and the descriptions very real. Thank you very much, for I know it was asking you a good deal, with all that 25 by 12 miles parish to go over.

I am so thankful that this Home Mission Society has been started, because so many of the men are showing quite a deep interest in the work, & that is why I want so much to give them fresh information. Mr. Ptolemy gave us a paper also last evening, comparing the present state of things with what they were when we first knew them 28 years ago. Altogether I think it was quite a pleasant meeting. Your mother and Tom were there. It was a very wet night, and we had only about 30 out, still it was more than we would have had on such a night at the regular prayer meeting.

Dr. Fletcher is now at the Assembly, and Dr. Milligan appointed his successor. I don't envy him his work during this year. The moderatorship, as somebody said seasons its honours with worry and work. The dear daughter got home on the 24^th in time to celebrate a great many events. Our wedding-day & Father & Uncle Willie's birthday and we were for a few days a quartette once more, but it did not long remain that way. Hugh is beginning work for the summer in a few days, and is meanwhile employing his time sketching & thinking great thoughts.

When I began this page, I did not notice all this figuring on it. Will you excuse it? How cold it keeps. I am quite comfortable here in the library beside a nice wood fire. Mr. Cunningham, you know is here with us for a time, but he is anxious to get settled in a permanent charge. He enjoyed the Glasgow lectures particularly. Mr. Little, who is now Dr. Lyle's assistant seems to be very much liked. He preached our last preparatory sermon, quite an original study on "Taking up our cross."

Good-night Calvin, many thanks for the trouble you took, and the stimulus your letter gave us to be up and doing. Annie is out & Hugh has gone for a walk with Norman Lyle otherwise their love would go with mine to you from,

Your sincere friend

Phyllis E. Fletcher