October 27, 1866
. . . I am very well through the tender care of God. I enjoy
very much my studies in this term. My eyes are quite well, so that
I can study during the day, and in the night, least one hour and half
or two. In the beginning of this term I took Romans for my evening
study, and read through it a week ago. Mr. Flint interested me very
much and explained it for me. Now I am reading first Corinthians.
Last Friday Capt. Taylor's wife wrote a letter to me, and told me
he will sail to China again and he would like to see me before his
voyage. Therefore I wanted to see him very much. But I thought
within my heart that I must spend some money for going up and
coming back. But in the Saturday morning Mrs. Flint gave me
a ticket, and Mr. Hidden presented to me one dollar bill to spend it in
Boston. After our morning prayers in the Academy I went to Boston
. . . then I went to Charlestown to see Capt. Taylor. He was there
on board the ship and seemed very glad to see me. Forenoon I stayed
there with him, and it was very pleasant to me to spend a few hours
with my old acquaintance. Afterwards he took me to Boston to get
dinner, gave me his thin overcoat which is very suitable for this
season, and bought for me a very nice hat, though I did not tell him
about it. After a quarter of five o'clock he came to the depot with
me, bought a ticket for me, and said good-by, bursting in tears.
O Mrs. Hardy, is it not wonderful that the providence of God has
fallen on me, a poor Japanese, so much?Last Monday M[ontgomery Sears?] told me my trunk had come. Mrs. Hardy! when I opened the trunk I said within my heart: "What shall I do to you?" because you give me so many things as your own boy. Not these things only, but my education, hoping that I might do great good to my native land. I think, though you help me so much, you hope no reward from me, because you know I am poor. Therefore I may say surely that your heavenly reward shall be increased. Please remember the words of the Lord Jesus how He said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive.". . . Last Monday evening Mrs. C[handler] died. I think she is sitting now by the right hand of Jesus. A few weeks ago Mrs. Shedd asked to you about my joining the Seminary Church, and she wrote to Mrs. Flint that you are approved of it. If you and Mr. Hardy approve it, I shall join it the next communion. Now I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for our sins, and we shall be saved through Him. I love Jesus more than anything else. I cast whole self to Him and try to do right before His sight. This is my vow. I will go back to Japan and persevere to turn the people to Jesus from Devil. I determined myself to Jesus so fast that nothing can separate my love from Him. But my flesh is weaker than my spirit, therefore I wish to join church and to unite in Christ, that I may grow more Christlike and I may do great good to my nation for his name's sake. If you approve it, please give me answer in the next week. Please care for yourself and give my love to Mr. Hardy and all your family. I would like to see you sometime. . . .