My wife’s only brother, who had been suffering from consumption for a long time, died October 8th at Lowestoft, aged 46 years, leaving a widow and four children to mourn their bereavement. We took the second boy under our charge, and kept him seven years. During that interval, his two brothers had died, and only him and his sister was left. Edmund Challis, my wife’s sister’s husband, was killed by a loaded carriage passing over his body on the 17th of February, 1869, surviving his first wife only three years. We know not what a day may bring forth. I happened to meet that poor man coming from Lowestoft with the loaded wagon, and he was then riding, not thinking that would be the last time that I should see him, but it proved to be so, and he is gone. There is a piece of ground adjoining my garden, containing about 40 perches, and belonging to Mr. Knights. That gentleman was willing to treat with me as to the purchase of the same, and we agreeing, I became the purchaser thereof for £45, and had the pump put down thereon in the month of May, having found, and still continuing to find a good supply of pure water—thanks to the Giver of all good. It is delightful to live and walk in the shining of God’s countenance; but to die in the light and consolation of his presence is the crowning mercy of all. How gracious is the Holy Spirit of Promise to shine away the doubts and fears of His people, and put them to bed by daylight! O, may it be more and more my privilege to taste the sweetness of His love, rise into a nearer conformity to His image; enjoy closer communion with Him, and experience an increasing sense of his never-failing faithfulness, and catch a glimpse of that page in the Book of Life, whereon is written my unworthy name. The year of 1870 brings with it many incidents peculiar to our position. “Man walketh in a vain shadow.” On February 7th, Mr. Robert Morris, a chemist at Lowestoft, and one, who when young, attended at the same school with myself (Mr. Goodwin’s, at Laxfield) died at the age of 59. Thus my old schoolfellows are receding from view. I know not now where to find half a dozen. O, let me be thankful for the mercies bestowed upon me. We had very little rain from the first Monday in May to the last Saturday in June. My old neighbour, John Adams, who had served his generation, by the will of God, fell asleep on the 14th day of July, and was gathered to his rest at the age of 85 years. The harvest was generally begun on the 12th August, but the weather was very fickle. A thunderstorm came on the night of Thursday, 18th, and from that time to the end of the following week, we had rain every day, and on Sunday, 28th, as much rain fell as had fallen during the week previous, so that rain continued, with slight intermission for 12 days, and harvest was scarcely concluded by September 8th, the celebration of the harvest-home of that year.