Letter from Maggie Gray to Robert Laws Letter from Maggie Gray, Miss Parks' house, Crimond, to Robert Laws, regarding visit of fisherwoman and impression that haddock is a luxury; meeting with minister at school; mention of some 'disagreeable' report made about her; minister a good preacher but a bad parish visitor; said to be unhappy at home; family details of Dr. Irvine's children; reflections on the parish 'gossip'; walk with Etta to Loch Strathbaig; description of boat house; domestic evening; uncomfortable at church with people staring at her; good sermon; reluctance to become friends with Miss Seymour; visit of Robertson's Uncle George from Lonmay; reading 'Sturgeon'; Edith Robertson ill through eating apples - potential cause of diphtheria at school, to which pupils very much subject; Uncle George has taught for forty years, twenty at Lonmay; story of the Lonmay beadle scaring the children to school; difficulty finding her way home in the dark; bad weather; difficulty in keeping two classes occupied; temper of Robertson and a caning incident; her refusal to use the cane; Edith now suffering from jaundice - a sweet child; anecdote of Edith bringing a hen into the drawing room; his parcel; parting from him; lodging expenses (she pays 3/9 including fire, and buys her own candles rather than use paraffin lamps); assurance that God will help in his work; problems with families not inclined towards Bible study; risk of letters being discovered at Crimond. 23 October 1873