Letters

Proverbs 1:8

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Dearest Mother,

It has been several days since I have written to you, I am quite remiss. The property is magnificent, as you assured me. There are long walks with creeks and I have discovered a couple of favourites already.

I know your first question will be how it is going with my husband, and I believe it is going well. Certainly, he has not expressed any particular irritation at any of my behaviours, and, indeed, I seem to make him smile at regular intervals.

I have a wonderful new chambermaid, whose name is Nara. She assures me it means ‘happy’, although a parson’s daughter insists it means ‘maid’. I don’t see how the same word can mean two things like that, but they are both adamant.

I am finding all of the staff quite nice, although I live in fear of the housekeeper. She has been here since Noah, apparently, and I find her quite intimidating.

I am writing to you because I love you but also to tell you that I have found a bride for cousin James. No, I am not teasing. The local parson has three daughters and such up-tight, starched-bosomed girls you have never seen. The youngest is already 21, which is certainly old, but I think that her maturity will be good for James in his work. She is a parson’s daughter so I’m sure knows everything that a missionary wife ought to know and is all prepared for Christian hardship among the naked heathen.

It is oh so hard to see her beauty with the way she carries herself, but I assure you it is there. Indeed I am convinced that all of the sisters are beautiful. And my husband has offered certain sums of his, he says you will know how much is appropriate to, as he puts it, ‘grease the gears’, which must be some new expression… I had never heard of it. However much is needed.

As I have told you before, my husband continues to be a perfect gentleman in public. In the village, at church, riding out, he behaves just as a gentleman should. And as we are almost never apart I have certainly never seen any of the behaviours that the gossips talk so about. I still cannot say I am reconciled to him, but please don’t tell Papa. I am sure he did his best.

I was telling you about Nara, my new maid. The other day…

Dearest Daughter,

Upon receipt of your letter, I wrote immediately to James’s mother. He is not otherwise engaged so she has promised me that she will speak to his father at the first opportunity. Which I do not think will be long, as they have a relatively good relationship. You will need to tell me more about the young lady as you have the opportunity.

Your father seems to be doing better. His coughing is still very concerning. But he tends to greet most days with a smile, which, as I assume you know, is because of your marriage. The letters of congratulations are still pouring in. I will put them in a package and send them on to you. A couple of them are even from royal personages. Such wonderful language they use, and the envelopes they came in! I opened them very carefully, I quite assure you. They will make a marvellous collection for your later years.

No, I don’t believe that your friends are at all put out. I believe they understand about the speed with which we organised the wedding, your father’s health, and your new husband’s desire for a family-only wedding.

Now, Dear, I do have the slightest complaint to make of your behaviour. Several times, you have used the word ‘public’ in a way that is most improper. And if you have used it to me, I doubt not that you have used it to others and that you use it in your private conversation with yourself. You must cease, Dear. It is a form of complaining and will not help your relationship at all.

We had a long discussion, you and I, before your marriage, and I told you that there are things that every young bride finds objectionable or, at the very least, difficult. And some of these continue to be difficult as the years go on. But it does no good to dwell on them. You need to practice submission in all areas, including the way you praise your husband. Praise him where you can, and be silent in the other areas.

Now, you have not yet told me what kind of flower gardens your new lodgings have. I cannot believe they have none. What are they like….

—

Thank you for coming round Arthur’s Substack. I hope and pray it will be a blessing to you.

Arthur publishes with Wise Path Books and include the children’s/YA books:

The Bobtails meet the Preacher’s Kid: A Christian historical fiction chapter book about four orphans who go to live with their aunt on a dairy farm.

The Bobtails and the Cousins: The sequel to Preacher’s Kid. The aunt has married, and the cousins come to visit. Meaning town kids dealing with chores and manure and…

The Bobtails go to France: The sequel to cousins. The Bobtails, and Preacher’s Kid, get to take a trip to New York, London, Paris, and a small town in France. To get some cheese.

and

No Ordinary School: A brilliant but socially clueless boy gets recruited for a special school. Where he makes a lot of money, gets a girl, and solves a mystery.

As well as GK Chesterton’s wonderful book, “What’s Wrong with the World”, for which ‘Arthur’ wrote most of the annotations. The book is a series of essays on how modern politics has gotten the wrong prescription for the wrong diagnosis.

Quite a few chapters of the Bobtails and No Ordinary School are here on this substack as audio.

I also write as Von, and I encourage you to check out that substack. There is a lot of theology and politics there, as well as quotes, poems, other articles, and links to other Science Fiction. But ‘Von’ also is publishing some serial books and stories. Much more adult and serious books than here, for the most part. Some of them.