Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/188

172 madness. One would otherwise have no hope for the better times that are in store for this distracted world.”

1, March 11, 1873.

,—Among the hundreds of letters which I have been receiving these last sad weeks of tender sympathy for me and mine, and of the appreciation of the worth and dying testimony of my dear husband, none certainly have touched my heart more than yours; for not content with loving thoughts of your suffering friend on his dying bed, you follow up these by a substantial proof of your friendship in destining so large a sum as one hundred pounds to do with as he thought proper.

Now, since the Lord has called him to a higher stewardship, I shall gratefully accept your gift, dear Mr. Carter, as it will enable me to contribute more easily (as I would ever wish to do) to the many noble objects the Master has honored his servant to further by his means as well as his advocacy while on earth.

You will be glad to know how wonderfully the Lord has sustained me. From the first to the last of Dr. Guthrie’s illness, I have seen that the sickness was unto death. I have cast my burden on the Lord, and He has sustained me. You know how I am blessed in my family, all doing well in the world, respected and respectable. And then the widespread tide of sympathy and kind attention, from the Queen down to the poorest in the land, is very soothing to my stricken heart. David sends you by this post a pamphlet containing any particulars you might like to know of the last hours of your dear departed friend, which you will please accept from me instead of a letter from Charles, which I am sure he would have gladly written, and may still by and by. I have with me my son Thomas and his wife, from Buenos Ayres; so the house does not look so desolate, though, alas! none can take the place of its head.

The Lord spare you and bless you, dear Mr. Carter, and