Iron Pot Lighthouse
August 2nd 1875
My dear Mother

I received your kind letter dated May enclosed in one from Frank and also 5 newspapers. The scarf received last mail I forwarded to Christina. She has been in town 5 weeks as we thought it would be the safer place, and she has 2 rooms of her sisters and her mother is with her so she is "All at home" and I hope will get safely over her trouble. I am glad to hear George is better and hope he will take every care of himself. You must remember that we live at the wrong side of the world from you and that winter here is not the stormy season you would suppose. In fact there is less wind in winter there than in summer, and since I have been here there has not been anything above "A strong breeze" and the snow is only to be seen on the tops of the highest hills occasionally, and last month there were several "Stocks" in bloom around the lighthouse. Rough weather here is the exception. From what I hear I do not think we shall be here long, and although I do not know anything certainly I expect that my next step will be "boarding officer" as the present one is getting unfit through age. The salary is £20 per month and house but I am very thankful to God for what I have got and although I have been ungrateful and rebellious yet when I look back through all my wanderings "Goodness and mercy have followed me". May He enable me during the remainder of my life to do what is pleasing in His sight.

Perhaps sometime I might have a garden and you may be sure I shall take great delight in it. Geraniums, Freschias etc flourish in the open air in sheltered places all year around here. In fact the winter is as genial as your spring. We manage very well for milk here generally but there would not be enough feed for a goat and then they would not give milk all the year. I think that Archbishop of Dublin and that Canon Bagot ought to be tied together and shot "Over the Mountains". It seems to me that some ministers in the Church lay too much stress on their learning and study. It is right certainly to do as Paul admonished Timothy, but all our earliest Preachers were poor and unlearned down to "Moody and Sankey" and what an amount of good they had done. Why! Because they did not trouble themselves about fine… theories but preached "Jesus Christ" and him crucified and were taught by the Spirit. How they looked down on the Lay element, the real Christian is of the true Church. It is well for you to have the means. I go to church once in 6 months! Thank God his presence is not confined to place. Excuse this and tell me if I am wrong. I have not heard from Chris this 10 days but hope they are all right. I send up the papers to Mr Babington as soon as I have read them. He says they are great comfort to him. Do not trouble yourself about sending money as there is no occasion now as the account is, or will shortly be, at the right side of the ledger. I know that I have had more than my share. I’m sorry that you have not got the shells but the next I send will be in a different way. I expect to hear from Chris tomorrow but send this now so that it may be in time.