The writer, a brother of McMaster, writes of another brother's death, E. D. McMaster . He apologizes for not writing before, but pleads illness as his excuse. He sent a telegram to James but as one he sent at same time to his family did not reach home, he doesn't know if McMaster got word of the funeral. He tells of the brothers last illness, of his courage in the midst of physical discomfort, of his faith in God and his request for prayers. The dying man sent messages to his oldest brother, Crawford that he "thought of him much and loved him much", and to McMaster he prayed that "he will turn again to the God of his Father." Funeral services were held in Chicago and the body sent to Xenia, Ohio for burial. Here the writer stopped, and continued writing the next day. He acknowledges receipt of a letter from McMaster forwarded from Xenia by the postmaster. His telegram was meant merely to inform McMaster of the death of his brother, as he know that the notice was so short that McMaster could not make the trip in time. He says he is just as pleased for he had wired a friend in Xenia, Mr. James C. McMillan, that the remains would be at Xenia Thursday night. He presumed that Friday would be occupied with making funeral plans, but McMillan went ahead and made all the plans for burial on Friday. Thus, if McMaster could have gotten away, he would have been too late for the burial. The writer comments on his brother's letter, then tells of his mother's death in the spring of 1860. The break in their correspondence was not on his part. Their father constantly prayed for his son, and relates an incident in which a neighbor heard the father praying, late at night, for his son James. He states that the mother lived some years after the death of the father and prayed daily for McMaster. He states that all the dead relatives have constantly prayed and probably continue to pray from the borders of the spirit land, for McMaster. He closes by expressing a hope that he will hear from McMaster. :: I-1-n A.L.S. 10pp. 12mo.