The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-02-18
Paragraphs from Letter from Campinas
Brazil, written to a Friend in Virginia
CAMPINAs, December 81, 1879.

+ CAMPINAs, December 81, 1879.
X Last month your letter of October
came, when | sorely needed every com
fort For over three years l had not
gone out of Campinas; so in November
| went to Sac Paulo, few hours ride
from here, to spend a short time with
some friends. Ny little boy, Wilson
Poague, even in the eyes of strangers, an
unusually attractive and beautiful child,
was taken i'll within few days of the
'time we expected to return. For twenty
six days we watched over him. and on
the 10th of December his spirit returned
to God who gave it, We laid him to
rest in Sac Paulo and came back to our
home-missing him everywhere After
the atfilctlons of past years, 1 sometimes
wonder that one has any capacity left to
suffer; but each cup has-its own peculiar
bitterness. There are duties owing to
those that remain, which must again be
taken up but it is with a bewildered
stricken, manned sensation, and yearn
ing for the lost one that can cease never
more. For the child, we know the streets
of gold are better than the best of earth's
pathways-the water of life sweeter than
any earthly joys-seryice in heaven
higher and holier than any here; and
yet-We weep. The letter you refer
to was a comfort: it drew the tears to
think that some do comprehend the wants
and the trials that await every female
missionary in foreign land The mo-
notony and isolation of their existence
sometimes produce mental torpor-
sometimes an intense hungering for any
thing that will awaken or arouse. Food
and clothing and shelter are not all of
daily bread and-if friends at home could
or would, throw some of the ordinary
brightness of Christian homes into the
hearts of distant missionaries, " it would
help to sustain and prolong physical life.
am sure. DR.. Wilson must understand
how we need this aid for outside of his
official letters, he finds time to send us.
individually, words of cheer and comfort.
A lady in Brooklyn, too, ,Ohom ,Oe never
S@10, has, ever since [ came to Brazil,
written from time to time, such helpful,
symyathising letters, aiding us too, mate
rally, every year, with our Sunday
School work. We feel so sure that what
the Society to which she belongs, has a,,a-
dertake'a to 90, e0iU al,Odys be done, that
1T never gives us an anxious thought |
have read lately " Foreign M5sssonarv's
Wge, sent out to us by Mrs. Perkins of
Philadelphia. 1t is admirable and in no
way exaggerated. You are kind to
think of those in the Foreign field. as
" consecrated, earnest faithful, always
lifted up to state of exaltation." Alas
we can tell a different story of ourselves
fears within, foes without: so much to
do-so little done so much energy de-
manded, and the constant falling behind
until it seems a miracle, verify, that God
ever chose that the gospel should be
preached to every creature through such
lnstrumentality. 1t must be that His
may be all the glory = Our German
colPorteur has made two journeys lately
into the interior, going with Bibles where
no one had ever gone before, and selling
them to those who carry them at least
t10eIUe hundred miles from Campinas. So
the leaven spreads I wish my time
would permit me to tell you something in
detail of his labors. + The new year
has broken upon us, Gods blessing on
you and yours throughaut its course
Always most afectionately,
S. M LANE