rch in this expedition:

"_Cape Town, 5th May_, 1852.--MY DEAREST MARY,--How I miss
you now, and the children! My heart yearns incessantly over
you. How many thoughts of the past crowd into my mind! I feel
as if I would treat you all much more tenderly and lovingly
than ever. You have been a great blessing to me. You attended
to my comfort in many, many ways. May God bless you for all
your kindnesses! I see no face now to be compared with that
sunburnt one which has so often greeted me with its kind
looks. Let us do our duty to our Saviour, and we shall meet
again. I wish that time were now. You may read the letters
over again which I wrote at Mabotsa, the sweet time you know.
As I told you before, I tell you again, they are true, true;
there is not a bit of hypocrisy in them. I never show all my
feelings; but I can say truly, my dearest, that I loved you
when I married you, and the longer I lived with you, I loved
you the better.... Let us do our duty to Christ, and He will
bring us through the world with honor and usefulness. He is
our refuge and high tower; let us trust in Him at all times,
and in all circumstances. Love Him more and more, and diffuse
his love among the children. Take them all round you, and
kiss them for me. Tell them I have left them for the love of
Jesus, and they must love Him too, and avoid sin, for that
displeases Jesus. I shall be delighted to hear of you all
safe in England...."

A few days later, he writes to his eldest daughter, then in her fifth
year:

"_Cape Town, 18th May_, 1852.--MY DEAR AGNES,--This is your
own little letter. Mamma will read it to you, and you will
hear her just as if I were speaking to you, for the words
which I write are those which she will read. I am still at
Cape Town. You know you left me there when you all went into
the big ship and sailed away. Well, I shall leave Cape Town
soon. Malatsi has gone for the oxen, and then I shall go away
back to Sebituane's country, and see Seipone and Meriye, who
gave you the beads and fed you with milk and honey. I shall
not see you again for a long time, and I am very sorry. I
have no Nannie now. I have given you back to Jesus, your
Friend--your Papa who is in heaven. He is above you, but He
is always near you. When we ask things from Him, t