This is the text of a letter dated 31 March 1927 from Mrs Marion Graham, widow of Rev Donald Graham (1859-1927), who had been the minister of the Shieldaig and Lochcarron congregation. It was sent from the Free Presbyterian manse in Shieldaig to Mrs Jessie Sinclair, widow of Rev J S Sinclair (1867-1921), who had been the minister of John Knox’s congregation in Glasgow.
I ought to have answered your kind letter before now, but as you will very likely understand, I don’t seem to have much heart for doing anything. I feel so lost. Although my beloved husband was ailing for so long, I never let myself think that he would be taken from us.
We had a lot to be thankful for that he was at home and, although he seemed to be losing strength, he did not suffer much, and that all the family were about him, and the greatest of all was that he was prepared to go, and that he is now enjoying the rest that remaineth to the people of God.
Three months before the end I was with him alone all night. He was very restless and not getting much sleep. I asked him: “Are you happy, Father?” “I could not be happier”, he said. “Would you not like to wait till the children come home?” “Yes,” he said, “but when my Father calls me I must go to meet Him in the Promised Land.”
He suffered a good deal the last two nights, but was quite conscious all the time. We were all around him when he was taken. Just a few minutes before the end, I said, “You will soon be home now, Dad”. “Yes!” he said quite clearly. I then quoted the text that he always spoke of as his “marriage lines”: “I will betroth thee unto Me for ever”. “O yes!” he said. These were his last words. He went home and we are left behind.
I need not tell you the blank that is in our home now. You know it too well, but we have many pleasant memories of our dear husbands, and they have left us the precious legacy of a devoted family. The great thing now for us is to strive to be ready to follow them when our time comes.
It is very likely we will be here for a year anyway; so if any of you can see your way to come for a holiday there will always be a welcome waiting for you.
With our united love to you all and a double share to Jessie Jo.