I think it is just the most wonderful thing that I ever heard of that you are willing to invite a stranger like me to visit you!  At first I thought it wasn’t right to accept such great kindness from people I never saw, and who didn’t know whether they could even like me or not.  But afterward Mr. Courtland told me about your Stephen and that you had suffered, too!  And then I knew that I might take you at your word and come for a little while to get the comfort I need so much!  Even then I couldn’t have done it if Mr. Courtland and my nurse hadn’t told me they were sure I could get something to do and so be able to repay you for all this kindness.  If I can really be of any comfort to you in your loneliness I shall be so glad.  But I’m afraid I could never even half fill the place of so fine a son as you must have had.  Mr. Courtland has told me how grandly he died.  He saw him, you know, at the very last minute, and saw all he did to save others.  But if you will let me love you both I shall be so grateful.  All that I had on earth are gone home to God now, and the world looks so long and hard and sad to me!  I do hope you can love me a little while I stay, and that you will not let me make you any trouble.  Please don’t go to any work to get ready for me.  I will gladly do anything that is necessary when I get there.  I am quite able to work now; and if I have a place where I can feel that somebody cares whether I live or die it will not be so hard to face the future.  A great, strange city is an awful place for a girl that has a heavy heart!

     I am so glad that you know Jesus Christ.  It makes me feel at
     home before I get there.  My dear father was a minister.

They wouldn’t let me go and pack up, so I had to do the best I could with directing the kind friends who did it for me.  I have taken you at your word and had mother’s sewing-machine and a box of my little brother’s things sent with my trunk.  But if they are in the way I can sell them or give them away.  And I don’t want you to feel that I am going to presume upon your kindness and settle down on you indefinitely.  Just as soon as I get a chance to work I must take it, and I shall want to repay you for all you have done for me.  You have sent me a great deal more money than I need.

I start Wednesday evening on the through express.  I have marked a time-table and am sending it because we are unable to find out just what time I can make connections from Grant’s Junction, where they say I have to change.  Perhaps you will know.  But don’t worry about me; I’ll find my way to you as soon as I can get there.  I am praying all the time that I shall not disappoint you.  And now till I see you,

Sincerely and gratefully,
ROSE BONNER BRENTWOOD.

“It couldn’t be improved on,” declared Mother, beamingly.  “It’s just what I’d have wanted her to say if I’d been planning it all out, only more so!”