Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-01-02
HERE SIXTY YEARS AGO.
Letter From Leroy c. D. Hatchett
Now Living in Indian Territory
Would Hear From Friends.

w. L. Rennolds, of this city, has
received the following letter undel
date Of Dec. 20, written from Z
Reno, /. T.:
Not having heard from you fol
nearly a year l will write you a few
lines to let you know lam still in the
land Of the living, and want you to re-
spond to me at your earliest convent.
ence.
Icame down here to draw for land,
which / did, but | lost. Ny son drew
100 acres, and a nephew, Archibal
Hatchett, drew 100 acres.
/ have heard no news Of my friends
in Mexico but such news as the
Christian Evangelist imparts. | see
you had your State meeting and sup
pose you had q good time. l should
have enjoyed myself had l been there
at the time, though they say and do
some things at such meetings that /
do not approve Of; but we can't have
all things at our own will.
| am neal e~ighty-one years old, have
lived beyond my four score years.
Who would have thought of it when |
was a young man? No one would
have dreamed Of such an outcome in
my life. When / was young l was de-
termined to study law. knew that
would bring in the money l loved SO
much; and l knew / could memorlze
Blandon and all decisions Of the
courts, and could soon make my mark
in the world. But the good Lord
gave me to understand that such an
arrangement did not suit him at all;
and that II i persisted in it that early
death would stop my career, and in
troduce me TO his black majesty, the
devil. But on the other side If l
would memorlze the Bible all / could
and keep on reading it all | could
that / should understand it in all
fullness as a system Of human redemp-
ton and salvation. l Immediately
went to work with a will and memoriz-
ed a great amount OF all the writings
Of the holy prophets and much of the
New Testament; and then read and
reread until my Bible became as
familiar with me as my letters. 1
had to be thus familiar with the
Bible in order to understand the expo
sition of it when that should be given.
And, now, thank God, / do understand
1t. l have sold my writings on the
Bible, and, according to contract, they
will be in print by next July. A firm
in Sunset, Texas, will bring forth the
work.
How IL could enjoy a few days with
you and your family. / want to see
Betty and Ressie, as well as yourself.
AS l said, we are still living, but time
has marked me for eternity. l shall
live only a little time now, but am
very happy in anticipation Of Jerusa-
lem, my happy nome.
Sometime ago In the vision of my
head upon my bed / saw my Savior in
all His glory, and l am sure l will be
with Him before long. This present
evil world has no charms for me.
Heaven and its saints are more to my
than all l see here. 1t is a
blessed thing to be resigned at all
times to the will Of Heaven, and to
know that God will approve of us
when He calls for us.
AS / have no more news to COM
municate will close this letter. You
will please reply. May Heavens
richest blessing rest upon you all, and
may God preserve you unto His
Heavenly Kingdom. May our Father
bless and save you all. Give my love
to all my brethren, and remember. me
to Brothers Duncan and Headington
and all enquiring friendD.
Your old brother,
LEROY G. ID. HATCHETT,