his life. For this reason a somewhat extensive selection has
been made from this tender and helpful correspondence. When it first
began the lads were too young to read the letters themselves, but he
wrote long accounts of his work to be read to them, and it is pleasant
to see how keen his eye became in noting such things as were likely to
amuse them and to arrest their attention. Some of the letters are
written in big letters resembling printed capitals. The brief, childlike
letters that were sent to him by them were bound up into a paper volume,
which he carried about with him during his Mongolian wanderings, and in
looking them over he found an unfailing solace and refreshment. He often
illustrated his own letters to them by rough but effective sketches of
persons and things which he saw. The death of their mother had brought
the lads and their father very near to one another, and although lost to
sight, they always thought and spoke of the dear one who had gone as
still of the family, as in perfect happiness, and waiting only God's
time to reunite them in the happy life of heaven.

When it was decided to entrust them to the care of an uncle in Scotland,
Mr. Gilmour set out the desires he cherished with regard to their
training. It is only to be regretted that similar plans are not formed
and acted upon in the training of all children.

'The laddies are here with me now, and I am both father and mother
to them. To-night I darned three stockings for them when they went
to bed. You see I have been away two months, and in a week or two I
may have to part from them for ten years, so I am having a little
leisure time with them. I sometimes do feel real bad at the idea of
the two orphan lads going away so far; but then the promise of
Christ that no one leaves parents or children for His sake, without
being repaid manifold, comforts me by making me believe that God
will raise up friends to comfort them wherever they may be.

'Cheer up! The two worlds are one, and not far separate. Mrs.
Prankard, I hear, won't have Emily's name mentioned. We here go on
the other tack, and the children are all day long talking about
what mamma did and said, and adventures we had together. And why
not? The tears come sometimes: let them, they do no harm, are a
relief more than anything, and the time is coming when God will
wipe away all tears from our eyes.