86 
THOMAS J. COMBER. 
thing for the Master in your class and at your 
meetings. May He fit and prepare you for greater 
work. 
“ And then, Percy, see how He has guided all three 
of us to think about mission work, so that we are 
choosing a life of great and honourable service. I 
love my work so dearly, am so proud of it, and would 
not give it up for anything ; and I could send you no 
better birthday wish than that you may be called to 
the same work. It will indeed be glorious if you, Sid, 
and I are all working in the future in the same field, 
and I fully expect and earnestly hope it will be so. 
Stage by stage I have been led to it, and as you, dear 
Percy, covet and strive after it, look forward to 
it, and try hard to fit yourself for it. I am sorry to 
have been so busy as to do so little for you — in writ- 
ing to you and helping you. I have often, however, 
left you in confidence in God’s hand ; and besides this, 
I have been glad that you have had Sid’s help and 
guidance. But my time seems more and more fully 
occupied, and I can’t do for you what I once could. 
But, keeping close to Christ, you, dear Percy, will get 
on, I am sure of it. Find a place in your new year’s 
motto for this thought, ‘ Closer to Christ,’ and pray 
that it may be so also with me. 
“ Directly after finishing this letter, I shall kneel in 
earnest prayer — specially, to-night, for my brother 
Percy. God bless you. — From your ever affectionate 
brother, TOM. 
“PS . — I hope you will find the books useful to 
you.” 
On the 4th of April, the early attachment he had 
formed was consummated by his marriage to Miss 
Minnie Rickards, the daughter of his much-esteemed 
Sunday-school teacher. Thus a dream of his boy- 
hood became a reality. The marriage ceremony was 
performed by Dr. Clifford, in Westbourne Park 
Chapel, and being the first wedding in that sanctuary. 
