Rangitikei 24 May 1852 My dear Douglas Nothing gives me more sincere pleasure than to have an opportunity of writing to you. The natives are paid, my other duties will not be very tedious and then I hope to clasp my pussy in my arms again. May God bless and direct you, may you ever put your trust and confidence in Him and confiding you to His care I must say good bye for today as Park and I are on our way up the country. I feel much for Miss Hart and also for Park in this unfortunate affair. I trust she will spend a few days with you. I have not time to write you. I have not time to write to Papa. Enclosed I send a sketch roughly taken by Park of your stupid old husband. I am always Your own D McLean I do not think I shall visit Whanganui this time. I would rather even come up again from Wellington. I have got Park to work and I am packing to follow him up the country. I must now add a few lines to Papa. Be a good girl and let me have a favorable report of you on my return. I feel every hour I am separated from you as long as I used to feel a week before our marriage or at least before we became so attached to each other, and I sincerely trust that I may never have occasion to diminish that affection that commenced in such a romantic manner and that I trust may end in our hearts being knit together until death!! Which after all only commences the endless stage of our existence. What are a few years upon earth compared to that endless eternity of which the most enlightened human idea can form no conception. My dear Douglas let our hearts be so united in this earthly sphere that we may never change through eternity but that we may so conduct ourselves as to have a hope of never separating and of being united again to those who have preceded us. Our greatest shield and protection is that merciful God whose spirit pervades the whole creation and who is ever present to help and aid us when we call upon Him. I often think my pussy would never have displayed some fretful little changes of temper had she placed more confidence in God and I sincerely trust that my own pet will never even in a trifling manner give her devoted husband any cause however slight to be displeased with her. Only imagine how painful it is to be absent from you, and how often I must suffer cold, wet, and various other hardships and self denial for my pussy's sake. Remember that you are everything to me and that I cannot help feeling any appearance of ungratitude on your part, not my pet that I accuse you of such but that I think it just as well as the thought has struck me to warn you that I expect to be loved with equal devotion and self denial as I experience on your account, and never to leave me as you did on that foolish night the remembrance of which and some of the circumstances connected with it still rush through my heart in a painful manner. I must now my own dearest again say goodbye. I have written more than I intended. With 200 kisses I now and ever remain Your affectionate husband Donald McLean