Transcription:
Rough draft of letter found on back of voucher marked, in Muir's handwriting, Moreal Acct., Jan. 13, 1896.this voucher date
probably has no bearing no date of letter itself. My dear Sid Smith: I see by the newspapers that like good old Paul the
Apostle at Bphesus, you are fighting with wild beasts. This is not so very hard to a clean generous soul, but 1 fear from
what I read last eve that some one you loved and trusted or almost loved has been unfaithful, and gone over to the enemy.
This, from my own experience, is cruelly hard to bear. But be of good cheer and stand up bravely even against this. No man
in this wicked world has a right to expect smooth, level, unmixed happiness. But every man has a right to suffer and must
suffer, for to teaeh us oertain lessons it seems at times necessary that the Lord should all but kill us. But be strong, nevertheless.
Your reputation only yourself can hurt, and this I for one know you will never do, because I am Ever your friend, J. M.
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