EVENTS AND PROCEEDINGS CONTINUED. II5 
if my dear little sister, when she sometimes thinks 
about me, as I feel she does now and then, if she ever 
thinks why Tom has left his country, his home, his dear, 
loving friends, to come to a country like Africa, perhaps 
to be shot. Why do I do it ? Why does your sister 
Carrie do it? For Jesus’ sake, dear Clara. Because 
our dear Saviour Jesus, who loves us so much, asks us 
to do it. So we have given up our lives to Him, just 
as you might give something to mamma or papa, 
because you love them. You understand, don’t you ? 
I don’t like to be away from you all like this, but 
Jesus has asked me to come to Africa to teach the 
poor Africans about His love. Has my dear little 
sister ever yet thought of giving anything to Jesus? 
or doing anything specially for Him ? She can’t come 
out to Africa. That kind of work is for bigger people. 
But I daresay Clara could find something to offer 
Jesus. I wonder if she could think of anything. Let 
it but be offered out of love to Him, and He’ll be so 
pleased to accept it. I do wish you could think of 
something. I do hope, darling, you will have a 
happy birthday, and that you will have a very happy 
year, so that when you are thirteen years old — in 1882, 
you can look back upon it with pleasure and happiness. 
O Clara, dear ! parties are pleasant, concerts, days at 
Greenwich or the Crystal Palace very good and enjoy- 
able ; home, sweet home, and the love of father, and 
mother, sisters and brothers, are better and happier 
still, but there is nothing that makes us so thoroughly 
happy as the love of our Saviour Jesus Christ. I do 
believe my dear little sister is trying to be one of 
Christ’s disciples. There, now ! my birthday sermon 
is done, and I believe my dear Pussie will think about 
it and remember it. I was so glad to see dear Carrie 
a few months ago at Victoria. She looked so well. 
She told me how nicely you were getting on — especi- 
ally with your music. Now, you have not written to 
me for a long time. It ’s too bad ! I want to know 
all about you, your lessons, your new home, etc. 
