1

Glenoak August 1. 1857

I received your letter a few days
ago. Employment in the affairs of the family
here combined with a slight undisposition in
bodily health has prevented my replying to
it sooner. Mrs Tomes bids me say to you that
you can retain the books of Mr Tomes in your
keeping as long as you wish and until it is
perfectly conventient for you to return them.
I shall request the administration to advertise
for the return of Mr. T's books, many of which
are scattered about in the city. But you will
understand that such notice respects those per-
sons as have books unknown to us.

With yourself, my dear friend & Bro., I feel
the death of Tomes to be a grievous loss. I
cannot discover the divine purpose in such a
dispensation, but I do not permit myself to doubt
for a moment, that God intended it for good.
I have scarcely yet realized that "he is dead"!