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Sister Saint John thanks McMaster for the preserves. She is anxious that he make another visit but the sisters will be in retreat on the 29th, 30th, and 31st. When it is convenient, they could use some port wine. P.S. The mits came today Dec. 23. :: I-2-e A.L.S. 1p. 12mo.

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Sister Saint John tells McMaster that the lemons arrived and she received his letter with the money. She encloses a letter for Gertrude which she began last week. :: I-2-e A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents The document arrived this morning and has been signed. The Mother sent it up to catch the post. Sister Saint John believes that the Mother wrote Sister Gertrude. She is feeling better now and expects soon to go about a bit. Saturday brought her letters from Sister Teresa and the Mother Prioress. They are beginning a Novena for her which all the Sisters are going to make. The Mother remarked to her that she noticed the spiritual growth in each of Helen's Sister Teresa's letters. Sister...

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She is writing at the suggestion of the Reverend Mother. Yesterday she was not so well, but today she is better again. She sends him a piece of Heliotrope that was on the altar yesterday when the Lord came to her. She is interested in "Le Toois Rome" by Monsignor Ganine, so when McMaster comes she may deluge him with questions about Rome. She is very happy to suffer for the Society, since she cannot work for it. She sends her love to Gertrude. :: I-2-e A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents Sister Saint John says she was very stupid not to send the address of the Convent in Avoca, Minnesota. She thanks him for the flannel. The adopted daughter of Mr. Henweed was professed today by the vicar-general. Mother reached home on the 5th and she was given the deed for the property in Lincoln by Mr. Fitzgerald. Everyone enjoyed the full length photo of Gertrude received in Sister Saint John's last letter. She wishes he would write to either Mother Blandina or Mother Saint Anthony...

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Sister Saint John wishes McMaster a happy Christmas. This Christmas he will have more for which to say "Quid retribuam" than last. She supposes she will not see him until after Gertrude's clothing. She wants him to wish Mrs. Keiley a happy Christmas and visit poor Aunty Brown. No father will be more earnestly remembered than he. P.S. She tells him the wine is out but she does not need as much anymore. :: I-2-e A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents Sister Saint John tells McMaster that the Sister who opened the demijohn broke up the boxes. She does not want him to send any more wine not only because of the expense but also because she will only be too glad to stop taking it. The Mother gave her permission to go to Mass as she is feeling better. She would like Sister Gertrude and Sister Teresa to know this retreat will not be over until Thursday so she hopes he will wait until then to visit. The oranges and nuts arrived but she...

Scope and Contents Sister Saint John thanks McMaster for the life of Bishop John Newmann he sent. Certrude wrote to the Mother last week. Sister Saint John wants to know if McMaster sent the photograph to Mother M. Agnese. She wonders whether Father Joques? has cured Sister Agnes. She believes it not the will of God to make her well right away, and she asks McMaster to ask God to teach her to profit by getting well slowly. She is anxious to know if Pho ? is going to Denver to practice his religion. She...

Scope and Contents The wine is finished so the demijohn will be sent according to McMaster's directions of last time. Sister St. John is praying for Mr. Drexel and remembering his daughters as McMaster instructed. She is sorry that he is ill and supposes it is the changeable weather. She hopes McMaster will be able to come down for a visit, as a retreat is being held for the children on the Feast of St. Joseph and she is relieved of teaching duties. She thinks the Reverend Mother is writing to thank him...

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Sister Saint John thanks McMaster for the trouble and expense he went to getting the water. They had their monthly retreat and exposition today. She is going to write to Gertrude on her birthday. She went down to see Mr. Harper for a few minutes after Benediction. :: I-2-e A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

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Sister Saint John hopes McMaster will forgive the pencil as she is writing in bed. She does not want him to worry as she is much better. A large supply of books will keep her mind off the pain. :: I-2-e A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

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She wishes him a happy birthday and will think often of him, although she cannot receive Holy Communion this morning. She has had some bad days lately, but is better today. She places her trust in God, and hopes He will let her go on. She asks McMaster to give much love to Jen. :: I-2-e A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

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She wishes him a Merry Christmas, hoping he will receive extra graces to fight against low spirits. If he prays fervently and often, God and the Saints will always help him. He is seeing quite a bit of the world; she asks him for his impressions of Canada and New England. He is asked to greet the Vallettes and Mrs. Cullen. :: I-2-m A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents She will find out where he has been travelling after his long holiday, from their father tomorrow. She thinks of him often and prays for him. Time has passed quickly since she saw him last. She has been reading about Indians lately, and hearing about them too, for they have sisters in Minnesota who have 50 Indian girls. She wonders if God might suddenly call John to be an Indian missionary, but assures him she is not really in earnest. She would be delighted to see him next time he...

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She thinks often of him, and asks God to comfort him for what has been taken away. She had never thought that Gertrude McMaster could leave home, and when she was told, she found it possible to believe only after a hard struggle. John should have courage, and trust in God, who has been so good to the family both before and after their mother's death. :: I-2-m A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

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She wishes him a happy birthday, hoping that he may receive many graces. She will say many prayers for him and have many said for him by others. She hopes he enjoyed his visit to New Orleans, as well as to the other places he has been. She bids him trust in God and our Blessed Mother, and sends him a picture she likes especially for the prayer on the back. Enclosure: A Holy card with a written message wishing John a happy birthday on May,2, 1885. :: I-2-m A.L. S. 3pp. 18mo.

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She wishes she could share some of his worries, but she can only pray that things may work out for them. She thanks him for his notes telling of McMaster and is sorry she was unable to write on December 25, but the mail did not go out from Sharon Hill. She will write to Mrs. Keiley. He should thank Mrs. Keiley, however, for the cake she sent. A.L.S. 1p. 12mo.

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She wishes him a happy Christmas, and prays that he may receive many graces. :: I-2-m A.L.S. 1p. 32mo.

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Mrs. John D. Keiley's letter was welcome, and John is asked to tell Mrs. Keiley that it will be answered soon. She is glad John has been able to give up the third room, and she thinks it very sensible that John should have Ben Keiley spend the night with him when he is lonely. She asks him to tell her about his business arrangement, and asks for a photograph of the Keiley children. P.S. She sends regards. :: I-2-m A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

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She is not going to deprive John of their father's books which, though they are of no use to him now, may be of use some day. If there are any books she particularly wants she will ask for them. She has the third volume of St. Bernard's works, which her father brought her to read last summer. She is glad he has seen old Aunty Brown. She hopes John will get to Mass every morning during Lent. Regards to the Keiley's. :: I-2-m A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

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She thanks him for the mortuary cards which arrived this morning, but she could dispose of a hundred picture cards if he can spare them. He is a good-for-nothing brother, for he never gives any information about himself. She asks for the address of Miss Mary C. Cassidy, their father's friend, who lives somewhere in Camden, New Jersey. :: I-2-m A.L.S. 1p. 12mo.

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She thanks him for the mortuary cards he sent, and asks for twenty-five or thirty more if he can spare them. Cards have been sent to England, and there are about a hundred sisters in all houses in this country. She prefers the plain ones. She reminds John of the reward awaiting them in Heaven. P.S. She asks if John has sent cards to Eliza Allen starr. Sister St. John has not written her yet. :: I-2-m A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents The mortuary cards arrived this morning. The Mother Superior does not want John to be offended, but she will get the palms this year, for John must watch his expenses. Sister St. John is afraid William J. Onahan and his daughter were not pleased with their visit to the Carmelite Convent, for when they spoke of the death of James Alphonsus McMaster, Sister St. John "froze up". She wonders if John has a Missal for the laity, and praises the English edition of the Missal as being better...

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She wishes him a happy Easter, and remembers how their father loved the feast. She thinks of their father longingly, and how good it will be to be united with him again in Heaven. She hopes John can see her and her sisters in Baltimore next week. She sends regards to the Keileys. :: I-2-m A.L.S. 1p. 12mo.

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She has not written him for two weeks, and apologizes. Holy Mass and Communion will be offered for him on Monday to make up for his lonely birthday. Sister Gertrude McMaster, D.C. wrote her a long letter last week. She asks John for some books. She wrote Mr. Farrelly on hearing of his son's death. :: I-2-m A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

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She is late in wishing him a happy feast, but she has not forgotten him. She wonders whether he has been to Pittsburgh, and hopes he is taking care of himself during the hot weather. If he has time he should look for their father's copy of De Montfort's "Devotions" for her. She sends regards. :: I-2-m A.L.S. 1p. 12mo.

Scope and Contents She thanks him for his letter, which she had not expected, although she felt sure he would remember her on Sept. 18. She also received letters from her father and from Sister Gertrude McMaster, D.C., as well as a visit from her father. She is glad he is travelling through New York State where the scenery is so beautiful; and she wonders if the part about the Mohawk is liked the western part. Niagara Falls should strengthen his faith in the good God who has created such beautiful things....

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Sister Saint John wishes McMaster a happy Christmas. The Incarnation and the birth at Bethlehem leave her breathless, so that she can think only of a phrase from Mgr. de Legur. God has loved us, and we must endure our sufferings. P.S. She will add a letter for Pho. A.L.S. 1p. 12mo.

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Mother has received a telegram from Bishop Thomas A. Becker of Wilmington, Delaware stating that he could not come at all. She notified the Archbishop James Gibbons, of Baltimore who saw no reason why the ceremony should not take place on Jan. 21, and agreed to preach and give the veil himself. She tells McMaster not to mind if things have not turned out as he wanted them to. This sacrifice will be all the more perfect. :: I-2-f A.L.S. 1p. 12mo.

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She is well, but asks McMaster's prayers for the Mother Superior, who is looking badly. sic. Sister Teresa is looking well and gets strong; she may outlive them all. This letter will carry to him much love from Carmel. :: I-2-f A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.