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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
where she could at once come to us on our return, wrote to her to come
to us as soon as possible, to which she responded as follows:
“Leland, Leelenaw County, Michigan,
February 20, 1868
.
“My dear Brother White: Yours of February 3 is received. It found
me in poor health, not being accustomed to these cold northern winters,
with the snow three or four feet deep on a level. Our mails are brought
on snowshoes
.
“It does not seem possible for me to get to you till spring opens.
The roads are bad enough without snow. They tell me my best way
is to wait till navigation opens, then go to Milwaukee, and thence to
Grand Haven, to take the railroad to the point nearest your place. I had
hoped to get among our dear people last fall, but was not permitted the
privilege
.
“The truths which we believe seem more and more important, and
our work of making ready a people prepared for the Lord’s coming
is not to be delayed. We must not only have on the wedding garment
ourselves, but be faithful in recommending the preparation to others. I
wish I could get to you, but it seems impossible, or at least impractica-
ble, in my delicate state of health to set out alone on such a journey
in the depth of winter. When is the General Conference to which you
[672]
allude? And where? I suppose the Review will eventually inform me
.
“I think my health has suffered from keeping the Sabbath alone in
my chamber, in the cold; but I did not think I could keep it where all
manner of work and worldly conversation was the order of the day, as
with Sundaykeepers. I think it is the most laborious working day with
those who keep first day. Indeed, it does not seem to me that the best
of Sundaykeepers observe any day as they should. Oh, how I long to
be again with Sabbathkeepers! Sister White will want to see me in the
reform dress. Will she be so kind as to send me a pattern, and I will
pay her when I get there. I suppose I shall need to be fitted out when I
get among you. I like it much. Sister Thompson thinks she would like
to wear the reform dress
.
“I have had a difficulty in breathing, so that I have not been able to
sleep for more than a week, occasioned, I suppose, by the stovepipe’s
parting and completely filling my room with smoke and gas at bedtime,
and my sleeping there without proper ventilation. I did not, at the time,
suppose smoke was so unwholesome, nor consider that the impure gas