Description Rev. John William McKenzie

Blackheath Blue Mountains, New South Wales, March 22nd 1880

My Dear Father and Mother

I was sorry that I had not time to write you by last mail or rather I put off writing until it was too late. I hope to send you our pictures this time. We sat for them last week and I hope they will be ready in time to mail. No doubt you would rather see ourselves, but as this cannot be you must be satisfied with the next best thing, which is, I suppose our pictures. I don't think you will see a very great change in my looks. Of course you must expect to see me looking older, for it will be nine years next October since I left you. Amanda has changed in looks a good deal. You will also see what a big girl your granddaughter is and what a fine fat baby Norman is. I am now living away up on the Blue Mountains. It is a very healthy place. I did not feel well in Sydney, not so well as when I was in the Islands, so I have come up her to get the fresh cool mountain air. I am living in a private house, which in many ways is preferable to a hotel. It would be too expensive for us all to live up here. Board is much higher here than in Sydney and the reason is this, the scenery is very grand, and a great many come up from Sydney for pleasure.  But the soil is very poor hence none come to settle here except wealthy people who have summer residences and those who keep hotels. The man with whom I am living has some office in connection with the railway station. The station is only a gun shot from the house. The train when passing makes the doors and windows of the house rattle. Amanda, Norman and the nurse were up at the Blue Mountains at a place further along the line with me a fortnight and it cost me without counting our railway fare - fourteen pounds five shillings. Had I not come to the country I fear I could not have gone back in the Dayspring by the first trip. Amanda is pretty well and does not need the country air so much as I do hence she remains at Mr Macphersons. I never heard whether or not you sent me the plaid I asked for. I saw no acknowledgement of any parcel from you, except the box from Salem Church which is to be divided amongst the three New Hebrides misssionaries. That box is now in Sydney and will be divided when we reach the Islands.

How I long to see you both. No doubt you are looking older than when I left home. When any of them write again from home I want you to send me your ages and the date of your marriage. Poor Mr Amand heard of the death of his father since we came to Sydney. It must have been a sore trial to him. His mother is still living. I hope you may be spared to celebrate your jubilee.  It would be so interesting that I would have to make an effort to get home to congratulate you. Fifty years is a long long period of married life. It falls to the lot of very few to live as long together.

I feel very thankful that God has spared you both to us. You cannot imagine what an incentive to patient labour in the master's Vineyard it is to have yo both anxiously watching my career. Of course I do not mean that to please you is my only object in toiling on among the heathen but it is not wrong to keep your approbation in view.

But I find I must close

I hope I do not need ask you to pray for us. No doubt you do that. But I must close 

I remain

Your affectionate Son

John William