Your favor to hand. I have had a terrible battle with self, but by the grace of God I have come out conquerer. I praise God now that I had the struggle, because it has enabled me to realize the emptiness of all that is earthly. It has convinced me that to depend on men is "like a foot out of joint." I make more miles toward my haven of rest during a night of storm than in days of calm weather. Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, I am as ever, Your friend and brother in Christ, STEVE P. HOLCOMBE. * * * * * TO THE SAME. LOUISVILLE, KY., December 29, 1887. _Dear Brother:_ Yours was received a few days ago. Yes, I thank God I am almost rid of my love of praise. I am willing to do the dirty and disagreeable work and let others have the picnics and the praise. "Who am I that I should be a leader of the Lord's people?" But I confess I did not get to this point without a struggle. How I did have to wrestle with God. He showed me the envy that was in my heart, that is my jealousy of any one who did more work or had more attention paid them than I had. But glory to God I hope I am rid of it at last. Yours, S. P. H. * * * * * TO THE SAME. LOUISVILLE, KY., January 26, 1888. _Dear Brother:_ Yours just received. I hardly think it would be worth while to ask Mr. Moody to visit our Mission, as his time is so completely occupied. I think our work is as much thought of as ever. It is quiet but I think deep. I have kept it out of the papers, because too much newspaper notoriety is calculated to cause a poor little-brained fellow to exaggerate his own importance. And then there is such sweetness in the work when you are sure it is not for praise but for Christ. I am afraid that many of us on analyzing our hearts will find first, self; second, self; and almost all for self in one way or another. May God deliver me from self. Yours as ever, STEVE P. HOLCOMBE. * * * * * TO THE SAME. LOUISVILLE, KY., July 10, 1888. _Dear Brother:_