by C[alderwood], William, 1823-1889
Very Good. Two page letter on both sides of a single sheet. 28cm. Folds for mailing. Small tear of top. A few brown spots. Minor paper adhesion which obscures some letters in a few words. Envelope not preserved. William was a Scottish-born Presbyterian missionary from Massachusetts. Saharanpur was caught up in what is now called the First (Indian) War of Independence one year after this letter was written. Elizabeth died in 1859 and was buried in the Scottish Cemetery in Calcutta. Sahahranpur Northern India 16th February 1856, My very Dear Grandmother,
For some weeks past I have been intending to take the pleasure of a little visit to you in pen & ink. I have taken a large piece of paper & a coarse pen & intend to write large that you may read it easily.
Your good Granddaughter my Dear Wife has written you, I believe, two or three times from this land -- which with several letters to others -- which you have probably seen -- I presume you know pretty well how we are situated. You have heard that through the long & dangerous journey to our present home the good hand of Our God was upon us all the way & kept us in perfect peace & safety. O what a precious privilege it it, my Dear Grandmother, to feel that whether we are on the raging sea or in a savage land, that He who is our Keeper is as able to preserve us where many dangers threaten as where we see no danger. O if we could only always "see him who is invisible" as constantly watching over us as He alway really is if we are truly His children, why should we fear any danger? Indeed could we always realize a reconciled Heavenly Father as constantly by our side, would we not almost have a Heaven upon Earth? It is our want of faith in Him that makes us miserable. I have hoped & have often prayed that you might have that Faith which would enable you tp rejoice in the Lord evermore. But alas! how often we all are forced to confess that our faith is very weak; for we often find ourselves fearing something or murmuring at some dispensation of Providence. O why should we do so? Has not he who directs all things promised us explicitly "that all things shall work together for good to those who love Him?" We must then believe either that we do not love Him or that all things ar working for our good. My dear ones & I have been so highly favored & enjoyed so many comforts & pleasures since we left our homes for this distant land that we have sometimes remarked to each other that it seemed as if we could scarcely be the chilndren of Him "who scourgeth every son that He receiveth." On the Ocean neither of us was what was called really sick, while all the other passengers had very severe & some very protracted sicknesses. Not one had a pleasanter journey up country & not one of them so pleasantly situated as we are. True we often speak of our comforts & happiness & sometimes speak of them as coming from a Kind Saviour But O Dear grandmother, I feel that we are not sufficiently grateful & do not improve our opportunities for doing good as we might & ought. O pray for us often & fervently, that in our enjoyment of worldly happiness we may not forget Him nor our great obligations to Him, from whom these blessings flow. And just now I feel like referring to another special blessing I have enjoyed, But I hesitate a little to write of it lest some other eyes than a Grandmother's may see it. You need not however let others see any more of this letter than you please. How often before I was married did I tremble lest I should at last be united to an uncongenial companion. One day on ship board in a private conversation between three persons, during our passage here, in which the trials of married life were discussed, this remark was made with regard to one you love, "O but you are happily married." The remark was to much for me, "you are happily married;" what a world of meaning in those few words! I confess that I was forced to turn aside my face to conceal the watery eye -- of joy & I [...] some gratitude. Yes Dear Grandmother, judging from almost a year's experience I am most certainly happily married, Thanks -- a thousand times -- for your instrumentality for training up for me a neat & economical housekeeper & a loving and deeply pious Wife.
Elizabeth sends lots of love & Kisses & will write next mail. [...] We often talk of & pray for Grandma. 10th March. Dear Grandmother, I intended to have written more but time fails. I will write the sooner. May God keep & bless you with all joy & peace. Pray for us. Your affectionate Son William C. (Inventory #: 94164)
For some weeks past I have been intending to take the pleasure of a little visit to you in pen & ink. I have taken a large piece of paper & a coarse pen & intend to write large that you may read it easily.
Your good Granddaughter my Dear Wife has written you, I believe, two or three times from this land -- which with several letters to others -- which you have probably seen -- I presume you know pretty well how we are situated. You have heard that through the long & dangerous journey to our present home the good hand of Our God was upon us all the way & kept us in perfect peace & safety. O what a precious privilege it it, my Dear Grandmother, to feel that whether we are on the raging sea or in a savage land, that He who is our Keeper is as able to preserve us where many dangers threaten as where we see no danger. O if we could only always "see him who is invisible" as constantly watching over us as He alway really is if we are truly His children, why should we fear any danger? Indeed could we always realize a reconciled Heavenly Father as constantly by our side, would we not almost have a Heaven upon Earth? It is our want of faith in Him that makes us miserable. I have hoped & have often prayed that you might have that Faith which would enable you tp rejoice in the Lord evermore. But alas! how often we all are forced to confess that our faith is very weak; for we often find ourselves fearing something or murmuring at some dispensation of Providence. O why should we do so? Has not he who directs all things promised us explicitly "that all things shall work together for good to those who love Him?" We must then believe either that we do not love Him or that all things ar working for our good. My dear ones & I have been so highly favored & enjoyed so many comforts & pleasures since we left our homes for this distant land that we have sometimes remarked to each other that it seemed as if we could scarcely be the chilndren of Him "who scourgeth every son that He receiveth." On the Ocean neither of us was what was called really sick, while all the other passengers had very severe & some very protracted sicknesses. Not one had a pleasanter journey up country & not one of them so pleasantly situated as we are. True we often speak of our comforts & happiness & sometimes speak of them as coming from a Kind Saviour But O Dear grandmother, I feel that we are not sufficiently grateful & do not improve our opportunities for doing good as we might & ought. O pray for us often & fervently, that in our enjoyment of worldly happiness we may not forget Him nor our great obligations to Him, from whom these blessings flow. And just now I feel like referring to another special blessing I have enjoyed, But I hesitate a little to write of it lest some other eyes than a Grandmother's may see it. You need not however let others see any more of this letter than you please. How often before I was married did I tremble lest I should at last be united to an uncongenial companion. One day on ship board in a private conversation between three persons, during our passage here, in which the trials of married life were discussed, this remark was made with regard to one you love, "O but you are happily married." The remark was to much for me, "you are happily married;" what a world of meaning in those few words! I confess that I was forced to turn aside my face to conceal the watery eye -- of joy & I [...] some gratitude. Yes Dear Grandmother, judging from almost a year's experience I am most certainly happily married, Thanks -- a thousand times -- for your instrumentality for training up for me a neat & economical housekeeper & a loving and deeply pious Wife.
Elizabeth sends lots of love & Kisses & will write next mail. [...] We often talk of & pray for Grandma. 10th March. Dear Grandmother, I intended to have written more but time fails. I will write the sooner. May God keep & bless you with all joy & peace. Pray for us. Your affectionate Son William C. (Inventory #: 94164)
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