Catherine Marsh

“ I had my vigil to keep for four hours every night, and often have I, when on the middle or morning watch, clambered aloft to the tops, and sat down and watched, on many a wild and stormy night, the flying scud as it rolled restlessly across the lace of the moon, entirely wrapped up in thoughts of you and home, of past times and past events. ”

“ In the depth of his penitence for his errors towards an earthly parent — called forth by the patient bearing of her forgiving love — do we not see the foreshadowing of that prostration of soul with which he humbled himself, when once the kindness and long-suffering of his God and Saviour were manifested to him in the fulness of redeeming love? ”

“ Self-interest, he has found, even when calculated upon with the reckoning of eternity, is not strong enough at all times to raise a man above the dominion of his own inclinations. He knew not yet "the expulsive power of a new affection," for he had not learnt to say, "The love of Christ constraineth me." ”

“ He expresses his belief that no one could be an atheist whilst beholding the majestic power of God as displayed in the stupendous magnificence of those Falls; and while returning day after day to refresh and solemnize his spirit there, he realizes with renewed earnestness the sinfulness of wasting life in a mere search after pleasure, and is impressed with the importance of having a fixed aim of sufficient strength to be a lever to his life. ”

“ A huge whale kept us company for one day — no one on board had ever seen one like it. Porpoises and dolphins enliven us also by their presence every day, affording great delight, by their clumsy gambols, to the seamen and soldiers. ”

“ It was a year after this time, that a more serious tone began to be discernible in his letters — a longing for something higher than he had hitherto reached — a conviction of sin before God, "sin worthy of eternal punishment," with a desire to "enter on a state of preparedness for death and eternity." ”

“ That part of your letter in which you mention your fainting on the terrace made my blood curdle in my veins, and alarmed me dreadfully. That night I knelt by my bedside and prayed most fervently that the Lord Almighty would spare your life for the sake of your orphan children.
"A son's affection for his mother can only really be known when he feels that her life is in danger. I know not what I should do, or what would become of me, were you, my precious darling mother, to be taken from me. I should go on through life with a void that I know could never be filled up. ”

“ In Jamaica he had the advantages of attending an excellent ministry, and of witnessing the beauty of consistent religious character in the family of Dr. McIlree, the surgeon of the 97th, which had their effect upon him. But this all passed away on his being withdrawn from these influences, by being ordered to the Lowlands to sit on court-martial, where he was again led away by unavoidable association with ungodly companions. At this time, as I afterwards heard from his own lips, he totally neglected prayer and the reading of the Bible, and consequently lost the power of resisting temptation. ”

“ My dislike to writing in general shall not prevent me from writing to you or Mary by every mail for the future, without fail, so I trust you will not have cause again to upbraid me for having allowed such long intervals of time to elapse between each of my letters to you. ”

“ He feels the force of temptation, laments the dread of his companions' ridicule, and confesses his own utter inability to turn to God, whilst entreating his mother's prayers that the Holy Spirit may be poured out upon him. ”

“ I have two very nice rooms, and a pretty garden attached, with arbours of trellis-work. I have built a nice place, myself, for poultry, and bought eight hens and two cocks, by which I intend soon to make money! ”

“ Would that I could transport myself and cottage to Essex! The weather has been lovely for the last month. I enjoy the cool fresh air in the morning very much. I am never in bed after half-past five in the morning, which is the best time to inhale the bracing mountain-breeze. * * * I have got command of a very nice company. The men are mostly well-behaved. My endeavour has always been to be kind as well as strict; the consequence is (although I am my own trumpeter) , the men, I believe, would do anything for me. * * * Now, dearest mother, good by. ”