Letter from R. P. Smith to Eliza Fisher, Dec. 20, 1895

PASTOR'S STUDY, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MANSE

Gastonia, N. C. Dec. 20, 1895

My dear Friend,

Your kind letter at hand some days since; had to leave immediately on a trip, hence have not had an opportunity to reply until this hour. All of us were very sorry indeed to hear of your sore affliction. We are in a position to know how to sympathize with you, and rest assured that we do. I was about to speak of the loss which you had sustained, but I can't use that term - it would not be appropriate. [True?] it is painful to be separated from one so dear, but withal there is pleasure and unspeakable joy in knowing that your Mother is at rest in that glorious home where there is no night, no tears, no sickness, no death. What a precious

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P. S. I enclose a copy of our little church paper, it will give you some idea of my work. Many thanks for that money, but you will hear from me again when I have more time to explain.

privilege it is to be a christian in these times of trial and have our hearts swell with the sweet hopes that cluster around the resurrection morn. Your mother was what we may call a beautiful christian and we are confident that she is now enjoying a precious reward. We trust that the Holy Spirit has given you grace to say: "Thy will be done."

Truly you have much to be thankful for, without exageration I can say that I have met with few mothers whom I regard the equal of yours. Praise His name that she was given to you and permitted to remain here so long. I was glad to read the beautiful tributes paid to her memory, more could have been justly said. Her friendship will always be held in high esteem as long as I have a memory.

You certainly have our sympathy, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will manifest to you His comforting power.

We would be glad to have you come down and make us a visit whenever it would suit your convenience. We all would like to renew the old ties and would try to make it pleasant for you here. The manse is a very comfortable house and we have a spare room, which would be placed at your will. Gastonia is a town of 2500, twenty one miles from Charlotte. It has varied industries and is growing rapidly. My mind has been constantly engaged for a whole year on our new church building. When completed (in about three weeks, D. V.) it will be one of the prettiest in the South. It will have about all the modern conveniences and comforts.

Mrs. Smith has better health than when you saw her last, though she is not a Hercules yet by a great deal. What strength she has she gives to the sick, the strangers, the destitute, the sorrowing &c. Since I commenced writing this she has been sent for to visit a child that is very ill. She devotes much time to the women & children at our cotton mills. Mabel, Bernard & Julia are in school. Mabel is as large as her mother. Looking at her reminds me how rapidly time is passing. Mr & Mrs Reid have changed very much since you saw them, especially Mrs Reid, she is very thin and broken. Palmer is pastor of the church at Pendleton, S. C., and is doing a good work there. Whit is at home with his father & mother. The schools at Reidville are still kept up. Occasionally I hear from some of the girls. Mary Leonard is teaching at Tarboro in this state. Miss Saida has a good position in the public schools at Athens, Ga. Several have passed over the River before us. Would be so glad to have a long talk with you.

Accept this hurried communication (owing to pressure of business) as coming from Mrs S. as well as from myself.

With kindest regards, I am Truly your friend, R. P. Smith.