24 no mistakes in life. For your own part, keep right on but study 

 with a purpose & God bless you. 



Because of the father's urging, young Wherry continued 

 his college. To this end sister Nellie's letters helped. In Novem- 

 ber of 1896 she wrote out of Knoxville, Illinois, where she was 

 teaching at St Mary's: 



. . . What do you think of Papa's plans? . . . His going to 

 India will make great changes in our family. I am so sorry 

 Lillie will have to stop going to college. Poor child, it will 

 break her heart but I can't help more than one of you at a time. 

 I was never so badly off for clothes as I am now. . . . Write 

 to Papa for money just the same for I will send it to him and 

 if there is any left over, they can use it. How much are your 

 expenses this year a month? I hate to think of Papa's leaving 

 us but I suppose it is for the best. 



Some days later there followed: 



. . . You need not feel so much indebted to me. It is only 

 right that we should help each other . . . Mamma wrote 

 the other day that if Papa decided to go to India she would 

 probably go to Beloit to live instead of Wooster so that Lillie 

 could go on and Minnie enter next year. Personally I should 

 prefer Beloit greatly to Wooster. The people in the latter place 

 are a little beyond me. . . . About your going to India — 

 it would be a fine thing for you if you are not going to begin 

 studying medicine at once. You would be sure of a place and 

 salary for a few years at least and you could save money better. 

 ... If Papa goes it would be nice to go with him. I would be 

 almost willing to turn missionary to do that ! ! 



The call back to India, because of debate in the Board of 

 Missions in New York was not, however, to come for several 

 years. Only later was it known why. The grand old man had 

 been deemed guilty of dereliction of duty when he left India 

 to bring his children to the United States for their better edu- 

 cation. The Board saw no good sense in the move — and would 

 not forgive. Thus it was that the father needed to write : 



I hope you have received the $15.00 all right . . . You will 

 be surprised to hear that the Board of Missions does not seem 



