A Letter To Mrs Peake – October 23rd, 1865
My dear Friend, Mrs. Peake.
I am sorry to have to mention a sad event, which took place on Saturday. I was sitting quietly in my room before dinner, when Mr. George Covell, the brother of the minister, came up to ask me to preach as yesterday. His brother, I am grieved to say, had broken a blood-vessel that morning after breakfast, and had brought up a considerable quantity of blood. Dr. C., his medical man, had been sent for, and had ordered him to bed, to be kept very quiet, and indeed had enjoined that course of treatment which I knew was usual in such cases. I felt much grieved at the circumstance, as he has been so kind a friend to me, and as I knew well what a grave symptom it was. I therefore said immediately that I would preach once for him, taking the morning service, but that I could not do more in my present weak state. My services of course were gladly accepted; and so yesterday morning, in the midst of a most driving rain which lasted all day, I went in a cab to the chapel, and was on the whole helped through better than I could have expected. The incessant rain much thinned the congregation; still we had a goodly number, and I was very glad to do what I could to alleviate the blow, both to himself and the congregation. I am glad to say he is going on well.
It was only on Friday that he came to see me, and as the day was fine, wished to take me a drive into the country. He was very cheerful, and seemed to be in the best of health. When he has come to see me on a cold, wet, or snowy day, I have sometimes said to him—”Happy man, not to know or care whether it is cold or hot, wet or fine”; and now see, he is lying on a bed of sickness, bidden not to speak, and I, the poor invalid, standing up in his place. I have not felt anything for some time which has so truly grieved me; and I look forward with pain and fear to what may be the result. He is much loved by his church and congregation, and it will be to them a most severe blow. I cannot do much for him and for them, as at this time of the year my winter cough is often very troublesome; but still I hope to render what little help I can.
Oh how uncertain is everything here below! How often have I coveted his health and strength; and yet how all may be dashed in a moment! He has been much blessed in his soul of late, especially on a Lord’s day or two back, and for the most part enjoys a sweet assurance of his interest in the love of God and the blood of His dear Son.
We still continue to like our new abode and, I may say, our new town. I have found a nice dry walk, very retired and very pleasant, which quite makes up for the park I have lost. One very nice feature of this place is the great dryness of the gravel walks, so that even after heavy rain, a day or two gives you a walk where you scarcely soil your feet.
Yours very affectionately,
J. C. P.
Jesus is LORD! 
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