Your kind and reassuring letterEditorial Note: James Ackland to Mary Baker Eddy, January 1, 1882, 146.23.006. came duly. It is my misfortune you know to lead this great cause, to meet all its difficulties, to make the way for others, and to receive the price of my labors—even the ingratitude of the ungrateful But the fault lies at the door of no one more than the very student you named, who for eleven years has justified all I have said and done in the face of the enemy; and now has fallen even as a giant tree that withstood the storm only to rot by slow processes. Her husband was taught the malpractice As Written: malpractic by her daughter's husband, letters were found by her in the hands of her daughter planning how to set her Mother against me. She knew all this, she showed me the letters, but when she swayed for the two past years, I saw it, and would tell her audibly but suffer the awful blow rather than take her up mentally. I have left my students to do this for themselves and others because I should govern their minds and the improvement that would be the result of my goodness, not theirs As Written: thirs , and they would be no better when the mind that held them from sin let go. Had she been in her character like you or Dr.Editorial Note: Buswell did not have a medical degree, but in the nineteenth century, persons practicing various "healing arts" were often called "doctor."Buswell the Demonologists could never have made her go back of all she had thought and said of me a dozen years and find fault with me now when I have deserved it much more at some other time. Then to solace her pride she denies that mesmerism has had aught to do with her course
Your presents to me are beautiful and consoling just now Your lines to the New Year are excellent one of your best. Love from husband, —and I am