TO MR. THOMAS OLNEY NIGHTINGALE LANE,

Friday, Nov. 26, 1869.

MY DEAR MR.OLNEY, —

It seems so strange to be so near to you, and yet to be virtually in another land. It would have seemed an idle tale if anyone had told me that I should not be at your father’s death-bed. Nevertheless, it is well,-well especially for him to whom a longer sojourn here would have meant pain, weakness, and failure of mind, while his departure means a glory too resplendent for us to imagine it.

I quite think that, if you can get Mr. Brock, it will be just what he himself would have desired in my absence. I have sent to the deacons my request to have the pulpit hung with black, for his death is as much a bereavement to us all as anything could be.

My dear friend, I devoutly pray to God to incline your heart to be henceforth to me all that your father has been till he fell asleep. Not that you have not ever been the soul of goodness: but now he is gone, you must undertake more publicly the responsibilities which in private you really have borne; and if the Lord accounts me worthy to have in Thomas Olney the same tender friend that I have had in Thomas Olney, sen., my pathway in life will be smoothed, and my labor cheered.

The Lord be with you! My devoutest wishes are for your best happiness.

Yours most truly, C. H. SPURGEON.

WESTWOOD,

Jan. 4, 1883. DEAR FRIEND, My foot is better this morning though I cannot put it to the ground. This trial is nothing compared with that of losing Mr. Higgs. I cannot bear to think of it. He was a tender friend to me, and a sound adviser to us all. You will all help me under this trouble, but you will each one also have a personal loss to bear in his going home. I should like his son, William, to take his place, but even then the father is not there.

How grateful I ought to be that so many of you Live on —

all dear to me!

Many thanks for your proposed present. How I wish I could have seen the friends at the Bazaar! The work will get through all right.

Yours heartily, C. H. SPURGEON.

WESTWOOD,

June 26, 1883.

DEAR FRIEND, —

The check reached me safely this morning. Many thanks for all your care of the finances, and for your extreme punctuality in payment. If the check did not come at the exact time, I should think the Monument had walked over to Fountain Court, and killed the Chancellor of my Exchequer. I can only pray, “God bless Thomas Olney, and all he undertakes I” Yours most lovingly, C. H. SPURGEON.

MENTONE,

Dec. 17, 1883.

DEAR MR.OLNEY, —

I had no idea that the presentation to the Rev. Burman Cassin was coming off so soon. Had I been at home, I was to have attended the meeting, for he is a brother for whom my heart always has a warm place. I wish him every blessing, and, above all things, abundant grace to win multitudes of souls for Christ out of his immense parish. His true piety, his loving manners, and his catholic spirit, make me esteem him most highly. Had I been able to attend, I should have added £5 to the testimonial, as a very inadequate but very honest token of my affection for him. As I am so far away, please be my substitute, and give the amount on my behalf. You can trust me till I return.