Asa and Lucy Thurston had five children, Persis, Lucy, Asa, Mary, and Thomas. On August 3, 1840, Lucy Thurston set sail on a trip with her children to the continent to provide them with educational opportunities. Her daughter, Lucy, was aboard.
“August 8th. – This morning mother took a package from her desk, opened it, and presented each of us with a letter. We saw that they were written in the well-known hand of our dear father.”
“On perusing the contents of mine a tender chord was touched in my heart and my tears flowed afresh. This letter will be doubly valuable from the affecting circumstances under which it was written.”
“Ever will it be my joy and aim to regard the parting advice and instruction of an absent parent, and conform my actions to his wishes.” (Lucy G Thurston)
The following is the last letter to Lucy, from her father …
“Honolulu, July 14th, 1840, My Dear Daughter Lucy, The time has come that we must separate. Nay, we have separated for a season – perhaps for life – perhaps for ever. We may no more meet on earth.”
“We shall both be in the great assembly at the judgment day, either at the right or left hand of the judge. We may not both be among the blessed, who shall enter heaven with songs and everlasting joy. Would we enter heaven we must be prepared for that place while here on earth.”
“See to it that you are prepared. Be careful lest you be led away by the glare and fascinations of this world. Ten thousand temptations will assail you, and if you are not on your guard you may yield to some of them.”
“Beware of the three great enemies of your soul, the world, the flesh, and the devil. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.”
“Read your Bible daily with prayer and meditation. Live near to God, walk with God, and let it be seen by all around you, that you are indeed a disciple of Jesus; that you bear his image, and that you are determined to follow him, whatever may be the consequences, whatever others may say of you.”
“Regard not the maxims, customs, or opinions of the world, if in their tendency, they lead you away from Christ, and from heaven. Let the love of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”
“‘Know thyself’ is an injunction of great importance to the well being of the soul.”
“This you cannot know without frequent and careful self-examination. Examine yourself daily, and once a week let the work be done with more care and scrutiny than usual.”
“There are seasons when this duty is rendered peculiarly appropriate – the close of the day – the close of the week – the close of the year.”
“Previous to a season of communion, as it is enjoined by the apostle ‘Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.’ There are many other seasons when the duty of self-examination is peculiarly appropriate.”
“Never let these seasons pass away without finding you engaged in your appropriate duties. Be not ashamed of Christ and his cross – take up your cross daily and follow him, and let it appear to all, with whom you associate, that you are a disciple of the meek and lowly Jesus.”
“Forget not to labor and pray for the heathen, and prepare yourself by mental cultivation, as well as Christian discipline to labor among them; if the providence of God shall favor it.”
“Write a letter at least once a year to some of your scholars on Hawaii; and forget not to pray for the children and youth of the Sandwich Islands. Pray for the church and people of Kailua, and pray for your father, who is still laboring for their salvation.”
“God Almighty bless you, my daughter Lucy. – Farewell. – We may meet no more on earth. Shall we meet in heaven? ‘Your Father.’” (The Missionary’s Daughter)
“Mrs Thurston’s stay … in the United States was saddened by the death of her daughter Lucy, who died in Brooklyn, NY, February 24, 1841, at the age of seventeen years. She died at the home of Mr AP Cummings, editor of the New York Observer”.
“She was a lovely and interesting girl, and a great favorite with every one who knew her. Mrs. Thurston left two children to be educated in this country, when she started on her return October 24, 1842.”
“She was received with joy by her husband and the natives, and found a church of eighteen hundred members – three times as many as when she went away.” (Bailey)
(Mrs Cumings wrote a book, The Missionaries Daughter, that relates the life of young Lucy G Thurston – it includes entries from Lucy’s journal and extracts of letters she wrote. It is well worth reading.)
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