1899
United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, France
September 22nd, 1899
Perth, Western Australia
My Beloved Angee,
How thankful I am that this will be the last letter it will be needful to write before seeing your dear face once more – it has been a long – very long absence and my heart often reproaches me for leaving you so long. We have however hitherto proved the gracious mercy which has this far preserved us and we may well treasure the beautiful thought of that hymn which says – "We'll praise Him for all that is past and trust Him for all that's to come". It has been with much pain that I have been able to get about for many days past – both my knees have been so bad with Rheumatism – my health in a general way has been good – have tried all sorts of things but not with much success – I give them a good rubbing with St Jacob's Oil every night – hope the rest and change of the voyage home may be beneficial. You can sympathise with me because of your own sufferings in the hands. Thro' mercy have got on nicely with my work and am glad to find the accounts opened on previous visits have turned out very first class so that indents go forward with regularity – have opened another very good one today in Freemantle. The Swiss Milk business has required the bulk of my time here and D.V. I purpose going up to the gold fields tomorrow night – Galgorslie & Coolgardie. I hear the population there is very large. I do not return here again but go back to Albany direct by train so as to embark on board the "Arcadia" on Sunday week Oct. 1 Mr Davey & Mr Williams are gone to the fields and expect to return again tomorrow or Sunday. I had arranged to go over and spend an evening with Mrs Williams during his absence but feared the pain of walking, so sent a message. Spiritually this is a wilderness indeed – mammon is the god of this land. But the Lord knoweth them that are His and He Loves them and the cost of our redemption was not with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without spot or blemish, Shall hope to receive two weeks letters on board the "Arcadia" on embarking. The Lord abundantly comfort your heart my dearly beloved wife and once more with much love to you all – dear Mildred, Miss Britton & Mary and all other loved ones outside my own house believe me ever your very affectionate Husband.
Sept. 23rd – Perth
All well. Knees better this morning. You will be able to trace the progress of the Arcadia homeward – Colombo, Aden, Port Suez, Port Said, Marseilles, Gibralter – Plymouth -