Chapter 113—Further Labors
Experiences from December 23, 1867 to February 1, 1868
I will now resume the sketch of incidents, and perhaps I cannot
better give an idea of our labors up to the time of the Vermont meeting
than by copying a letter which I wrote to our son at Battle Creek,
December 27, 1867:
“My dear son Edson,
“I am now seated at the desk of Brother D. T. Bourdeau, at West
Enosburgh, Vermont. After our meeting closed at Topsham, Maine, I
was exceedingly weary. While packing my trunk, I nearly fainted from
weariness. The last work I did there was to call Brother A’s family
together and have a special interview with them. I spoke to this dear
family, giving words of exhortation and comfort, also of correction
and counsel to one connected with them. All I said was fully received
and was followed by confession, weeping, and great relief to Brother
and Sister A. This is crossing work for me and wears me much.
“After we were seated in the cars, I lay down and rested about one
hour. We had an appointment that evening at West-brook, Maine, to
meet the brethren from Portland and vicinity. We made our home with
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the kind family of Brother Martin. I was not able to sit up during the
afternoon; but, being urged to attend the meeting in the evening, I went
to the schoolhouse, feeling that I had not strength to stand and address
the people. The house was filled with deeply interested listeners.
Brother Andrews opened the meeting, and spoke a short time; your
father followed with remarks. I then arose, and had spoken but a few
words, when I felt my strength renewed; all my feebleness seemed
to leave me, and I spoke about one hour with perfect freedom. I felt
inexpressible gratitude for this help from God at the very time when I
so much needed it. On Wednesday evening I spoke with freedom nearly
two hours upon the health and dress reforms. To have my strength so
unexpectedly renewed, when I had felt completely exhausted before
these two meetings, has been a source of great encouragement to me.
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