Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb. 1, 1877

BELOVED BROTHER-Your letter of fellowship was received duly. I have been greatly occupied and could not answer. God has pleased to bring near to me His precious Word, and make true his title as " the God of all comfort" by ministering to my heart on the departure of my darling wife to Himself on the 18th of January. I have made my boast in Him in times past, and surely by opening new avenues for His love to enter, He will make me still to boast in Him.
But, oh! what she was to me, to the children, and to His own in many places. Peculiarly intelligent in the truth, she was most thoroughly with me in all my work, so that she seemed to do all that I did, and more. My meetings taking me out almost every evening, she tied the family together, gathering and keeping them while I was away, and her power was sweetly for the Lord and from Him. Our house has been an open one for the saints for years, and she was happy, though with a poor, broken body, to be used in service for them. In all ways her life seems to have been like a sweet poem, precious and complete in all relations, and this simply through her absolute dependence on the Lord and His Word. It was His wisdom, His love and grace she was showing. And so she was independent of man, walking before Him. I always felt she was the practical expression of the sweetest truth I was teaching. I thank God for the twenty-one years of life with her, and now find Him turning my eyes more toward the resurrection and His coming and the glory. That is everything.
In the beginning of her sickness neither she nor I believed it would come to death. We rather thought, as we had taken our lessons together so long, so we should gather the deeper teaching together from sickness rather than death. But it was to be the infinite rest for her, and the waiting for me. And now I can see how kind it was of Him not to let my mind sink to that thought, but to allow my poor heart to get adjusted to the great fact, and consent to it, under His handling.
God has cast much upon Himself to make up all to me, to us. But I know Him and He loves us. I know, too, all about her. I know the company she keeps-forever with the Lord. It is enough. He is true. And so I go on, "always confident," waiting the "little while, and then-!
It may be the Lord is closing me up from going outside of New York to the many places both east and west I have had on my heart, as I have to be both father and mother to my children. But there is plenty in this neighborhood to be done, and one can keep very busy all the time.
I hope you have renewed opportunities of meeting dear brother S., and whether you have or not, you and your wife have been breaking bread. The Lord will honor those who honor Him in this, making a testimony through the quiet going on of that which is according to His mind, more than by much attempt at talking.
Much love to you both, in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yours in Him,
M. T.