Solihull Warwickshire England
17 May 1874

My dear Brother James,

After so many, many years of separation from you, and above all after so many years often thinking whether you were dead or still living, it gives me unbounded [joy] as we to hear from you, and to receive a letter from you, telling me that you are still persuing the good old [end of page]

way leading to eternal life, where all who though faith & patience shall meet to part no more. Oh, my dear Brother James, if I never more all you here below. I do hope to meet you again when time and the things of time & sence shall be no more.

I shall treasure up with much care the letter I have just received from you & I do hope to be often guided by the good [end of page]

spirit & meaning of your very welcome letter, especially I hope to be guided by the quotation of holy scripture to which your letter refers, in as much as I plainly see, you thereby have my spiritual interest at heart, still while you live I hope and trust you will often write to one as your communications will prove a comfort & solace to my mind, as I am thankful to tell you that I hope through Grace Divine I am travelling through the Worlds rough [end of page]

way to the better World & oh if you & I meet there won't it be joyful to meet & hurt no more. I must tell you since you left England, about the year 1851, I met the Lord at my daily work, though the operation of his Holy Spirit wherein I was shown my guilt & danger my soul was troubled for some time at length I found pardon of sin and now do enjoy forgiving grace & a hope blooming with a blissful eternity, thanks therefor to God be given for all his mercies. As regards my family affairs, my children are grown up & about 4 years since I lost my wife but am now married again to another of a -ailable age & of a comfortable disposition in relation to this & the future state now no more from your loving brother, Thomas Claydon.