History's Mysteries

One of the unfinished chapters destined for Separate Identity vol 2 has languished because it was becoming repetitious, and the outline for the 'second half' was unsatisfactory. A chance find has led to better path. It has also led me into unsolvable puzzles. Below is a letter that appeared in the December 1885 issue of Zion's Watch Tower. It is from 'a brother.' My best efforts to attach this to a name have yielded no result. Can you do better than I have?

Cairo, [Caro] Mich., Nov. 3, 1885.

DEAR BRO. RUSSELL: I have not been able to do much in the

Master's service. I just got a number of samples of Z.W.T. when

diphtheria became epidemic in this place, and two of my children

were taken sick, but they have both recovered. One family here lost

three children, another two, and some one by the scourge. We were

quarantined for a while. Since I am allowed out I have gathered up

some of the samples. I traveled all one day in the country, where I

had twenty samples out, and only took one subscription; and on my

way home at night, weary with my day's walk, and trying to take a

kind of an inventory of the visible fruit of the day's labor, the

adversary tried to discourage me. Well I soliloquised like this: If I

were working for dollars and cents I should have a poor showing

for the day's work, but thank God I was not looking at the things

that are seen, neither was I seeking to lay up treasures in a bag with

holes in it. The Lord blest me with these words--Be not weary in

well-doing, for in due season we shall reap--upon this condition--

"that we faint not." Oh, I am so glad that we have such a good

Paymaster and a Captain who is able to lead us on to certain

victory. I am glad that God reveals himself to me as an Almighty

God, and one whose mercies are over all his works, and that the

groaning and travailing time of creation is soon to be followed by a

time of rejoicing. I find that the spiritual pulse beats very feebly

among the people. I find people of the world and professors in

general the same--interested more in everything else than they are

in the subject of religion. The great mass will not read anything on

the subject, but there is now and then one who has a spiritual

appetite, and is strengthened by the truth. I am hoping soon to get

out and hold some meetings, and by the grace of God to stir up the

minds of the people, so that they will be inclined to search and see

whether these things are so. On the whole I am greatly encouraged

in regard to the work here. Praying that God may strengthen us

more and more to carry on the war against the powers of darkness, I

remain your brother in Christ,