I think this was written in the year 1802 or 3, but not being dated, am
not certain. The following, I think was in 1806 or 7, but it also has no
date.
My dear and faithful friend,
I wish to give you comfort, when I am taken from you; and to assure
you how great a favor I consider your being given to me, in the place
of my dear Sally, now in glory. It is often said, God takes nothing
from us, but he gives something better in the place; and so it has
been, for though she was the most disinterested and tender friend,
yet, in many things you are a still further help than she was able to
be. Your tender care and attention to me, encourages me to hope, you
will never want assistance, nor be left friendless; for the promise
is, “what you do unto another, shall be done unto you.” We are
joined together in the Lord, and shall therefore be eternally one.
My beloved husband and me, my friend Ryan, my Sally, and you, shall
be an eternal knot which can never be separated. You know what
proofs I have had that my friends in heaven do not forget me;
therefore, believe we are waiting for you, yea, and longing to hail
you on the shore. I might have been far more useful than I have
been; but I cast all my sins on my atoning God. I pray the Spirit
may richly be poured on you; and may showers of love and grace
descend on the dear people. You are called to labour _here_, and God
will be with you. I do believe the Lord will answer my prayer, by
supplying all your wants. I wish I could do more for you, but I
commend you to him who hath said, “No manner of thing that is good
shall be withheld.”
Grieve not, my dear, for me. You shall soon be with me; and perhaps
I shall be oftener with you than you think for; the spirits of the
departed are very near to us. “We are come to them,” says the
Apostle.
The Lord bless and keep you, and return all your kindness a hundred
fold, prays your most faithful
everlasting friend,
M. FLETCHER.
Another of these kind tokens of her love was dated February 11th, 1810,
at which time it was thought she would very soon be removed from us, but
the gracious Lord had compassion upon his people, and spared her to us
for above five years longer: and, O! how was every year fraught with the
fruits of righteousness. Well, she laboured, and while she did so, kept
her eye upon the Saviour, whose example
“She tracked, the world she disdain’d.
And constantly trampled on pleasure and pain.”
But to return to her kind epistle, written with a view to comfort me in
the separation likely to take place:
Feb. 11th, 1810.
My very dear child,
The gracious gift of God to me, how do I feel for you, who I am
sensible will feel a great deal in my loss; but I know the Lord will
be with you, and count your every hair. Let not Satan tempt you,
that you could have done any thing more for me than you have done;
for you have been the most tender creature in the world to me, and a
great comfort. I wish I could have done more for you in a temporal
way, but my gracious father, who hath cared for me, will care for
you, I am confident. To his gracious protection, I commit you: we
shall be one in spirit, though divided in the flesh. You may perhaps
stay a little behind me, to help the dear souls in Madeley, and I
trust the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out on all you are called
to do in his cause, and then we shall be again re-united to part no
more.
Your faithful friend for ever,
MARY FLETCHER.
The last of these loving remembrances was written two years ago, when the
wound in her breast was at the worst, and it was supposed she could not
survive more than a few days.
January 2d, 1814.
My dearest and best earthly friend,
I have only strength to say, I ask a thousand blessings on you, both
soul and body. God will stand by you: He will help you through all.
I solemnly commit you into his hands, and He is faithful to keep that
we commit unto Him. We shall soon meet above, to part no more. You
have been to me the _best_ of friends, and God will reward you.