Mary Lee to Mrs Dawes, 29 April 1897

52 Barnard St. North Adelaide
Apl 29th 19897

My Dear Mrs Dawes

You will have made up your mind by this time that I am a very bad & very unworthy correspondent- I am not about to fill this page with apologies but at once to tell you how grieved I am to learn of your sad & painful bereavement- I know you have had, with many others a very trying time owing to the unfavorable season but ah! all losses may be borne except the one which the hand of death closes upon - one consolation, however, is for those who trust & believe, our loss is the gain of our loved ones who have passed to the better land.

I expected my dear young friend (Miss Bell) to spend last Sunday with us, I thought the change wd. be good for her, but I suppose she could not get away on that day-perhaps she will favor(sic) us by a visit on Sunday next. How are you & how are the little ones? Miss B. reports well of their health & growth.

Tell me all about them-I suppose Evelyn begins to learn a little now. Is baby getting on her feet a little? What is the hair like? color (sic) I mean. We have had some good rains here & I think it has penetrated into the country districts, but I fear, not enough to be very beneficial yet; I trust it will soon come bountifully.

The flocks are suffering sadly I learn, everywhere. I suppose you know that Adelaide has had an unusual influx of visitors this season -The First Federation convention has just closed, we had the distinction of having it held here, but I presume you know all about it from the N.papers.

Our Premier & his wife left yesterday at the Imperial invite to be present with the other Colonial Premiers at Her Majesty's grand day. I should like to be in dear old London on that day - what a proud day for our dear old Queen- representative subjects from five Continents met to do her honor(sic). I hope it will all pass off well- I learn that we are to have some demonstrations of our own on that auspicious day. I hope Mr. Dawes is well & keeping hopeful and that prospects are brightening. How is Mr. Bowman getting along? I am hoping to learn that he is behaving like a good brave young Britisher & fully appreciative of his high privilege in being associated with a chief so intellectually gifted & so morally exemplary, as well as being a denizen of a home regulated & sweetened by your dear sweet self. Kiss the darling wee ones for grannie & write soon & tell me all about them, for altho' we hear from Miss Bell we all (i.e. Self, Eva, & Lottie) want to hear direct - Now dear one, expecting to hear from you soon & with sincerest sympathy & earnest good wished, believe me always

Yours affect

Mary Lee

Mary Lee to Mrs Dawes, 25 December 1899

"Bronta"
Molesworth St N. Adl
Dec 25 1899

My Dear Mrs Dawes

You are so constantly with me — so continuously in my thought that I cannot help thinking you must be conscious of my being frequently near you — tell me if it is not so? So much of sorrow & seemingy (sic) calamity the circle of months just closed seems to have covered — that it is hard, very hard to realize how much of sorrow could be crowded into one year — only one year! Ah — well! Who can tell how near they may be or how much their presence — tho' invisible — may be helping & strengthening us to bear & to hope . . . . . This has comforted me in hours of deep despondency. Let it comfort you also darling friend, "Are they not all ministering spirits" are they less so now than when held down by our poor clogged humanity — Ah! surely not — loving ministering spirits then. What must they be now when translated to a higher plane of duty to work the Father's will. Yes! dear one, I too have experienced how hard it is to say "Thy will be done" but it is done & we cannot, as He, The All Father can see the ultimate —How is the precious boy? is he like . . . . .?

I can well understand how painfully you anticipate the going home — never to be the same home again — but my sweet-friend, it is peopled with crowds of precious memories — try to live in them & in the dear anticipations — only think of the meeting where there are no more partings. It is gratifying & comforting to me to learn that you are all so much brighter & better for your change of residence, it must be a relief to get near the sea at this season, so good for the precious chicks, they will grow & thrive, it was a wise arrangement. No doubt it is very pleasant, especially with the children to be by yourselves & do as you like — it will be very helpful if you not get over-much by yourself, I know by experience, that this may be & is a mistake. Anyway dear Miss Bell is a bright hopeful & helpful spirit & the dear wee ones have constant claims on your attention, this is solacing & helpful — Look up dear-one

"There is Mercy in every place
And Mercy encouraging thought
Gives even application a grace
And reconciles man to his lot "

You say the weather is so cold you have had to have fires! We on the contrary have been almost "burnt alive" but I am thankful to say we are enjoying a splendid rain today which has revived both animal & vegetable life & recovered us greatly.

A friend who has been staying with us for some months presented me, on leaving with a book which has been much talked about, by Florence Marryatt, recently dead, "There is no Death" I should recommend it to you — I am sure you will like it very much. Give my sincere love & ardent good wishes to our dear Miss Bell & tell her I am dead nearly from the heat of the last two days but she shall have a line in a day or two & kiss our wee ones for us. For your own sweet self, I just want to put my arms around you and not attempt to speak ---

May the new year tell us more emphatically than ever before that God is Love.

Love from your old friend

Mary Lee

P.S.

Eva sends loving messages to all — especially to the wee folks.
Lottie respectful remembrances & affectionate good wishes.