Urker August 15^th 1894

[Answd]

 

My dearest Son

 

            I received yours of the 11^th of July yesterday. Thanks be to God for the good news it contained, and thanks be to you for your weekly letters since the plague commenced. They kept me from being unreasonably anxious about you and your family. But I had a still better consolation; the promises of the 91^st Psalm [1] were borne in on my mind as if they had been specially addressed to myself. I read that Psalm every morning before I rise; and oh what a comfort it is! I recommend it to your perusal and wish you to commit it to memory.

 

            My prayers for my children are graciously heard and answered. Only think of it; one of my Sons in the midst of an earthquake; and another in a plague scourged city; and both of them and those dear to them mercifully preserved. “The old cow” [2] also is never forgotten in my petitions. Oh if those who have been favoured with these distinguished mercies will turn to the Lord with their whole heart; these late calamities will prove to be a blessing in disguise.

 

            Minnie [3] wrote me two kind letters; but I am not able to answer them; you may see by my writing that my writing days are over. You can show her this letter and make my apology to her. Whenever I attempt to write, my hand trembles, though there is no tremor in it at other times.

 

            I do not quite like the idea of sending dear Tom [4] to that hotbed of popery & superstition Oxford. Nevertheless there were some cases in Sardis [?] not defiled their garments [5] ; I hope Rev^r Craig [6] may be one of them. Tell Tom to take no orders but from headquarters that is, the Word of God, in matters of faith. Any thing that he does not find there; let him soon to believe. I hope and pray that the old lady of Babylon [7] will never get one of my children or grandchildren.. I have not heard lately from Tom [8] or Beatrice [9] or Julius [10] ; but am daily watching to hear from them.

 

            All here are well; and the rest of your Irish friends much as usual. Bessy [11] and three of her boys are here at present. I was rejoiced that you were able to give such a favourable report of young Thompson [12] . He is a good Father’s and Mother’s Son and I hope will never be grief to them.

 

            Your old Mother sends you ten thousand, times ten thousand blessings; she never asks one less for you.

 

            All here write in love to you to Minnie and to your children

            with your ever affectionate Mother

                        Eliza Jackson

PS Is there any hope or chance of young Rainsford [13] getting into your Bank? I am told that he was far better qualified than some who did get in. I fear the London examinations were rather favourable to those who they themselves had educated.