Some public men have two sides to their character,--a very sweet one which they present to their audiences, and a very sour one which they proffer to their families. It may be true that "no man is great to his valet," but it more often happens that the great man is a great nuisance to his wife and children. Overbearing selfishness at home seems to be quite compatible with angelic high-mindedness abroad. The inner life of too many of the world's heroes would not bear inspection, and suffering women and children could, if the opportunity were afforded them, prick the bubble of the reputation of many a son of fame.

      It was not so with A. B. Maston. The man who, with children of his own, could write, "Whenever I think of death, my mind turns to a quiet country grave-yard in Ohio. When a mere child I saw a little sister buried there, whose life seemed a part of my own."--A man who could carry tender emotions such as this right through life was not the man to disappoint his own wife and children.

      A sister, named Flora, died in 1879, and on each anniversary of her death, for years afterwards, we find a record of his grief, with some extra token in the shape of a piece of crape, or black silk ribbon; inserted very neatly at the top of the page of his diary, with the letter F., or the initials [71] M.F.M. cut from some printed type and gummed very carefully on to the ribbon. One of these records reads thus:--"This is the day when the spirit of sister Flora took its departure from the body of clay, in which it had been living for 18 years, but only to be with God in a brighter, purer, holier land than this. When I realize that she is gone, it makes me sad, but when I think that she is out of this world of sin, I am glad. O Lord! help me to live so that when the time of my departure may come I may meet the two dear sisters who have gone before."

      Another entry reads as follows:--"On this day the spirit of sister Flora took its departure from this earth. It was a cold, bleak morning, and she had been suffering for many days, but, at last, death came, the grim monster, and took her from us. Thus it is one by one we pass away, but only from trouble to a fairer land than this. I rejoice to know that sister Flora has found a home 'in Christ,' where alone there is safety."

      Such tender thoughts of a departed sister betoken a gentle spirit, such as is not infrequently found in the strongest characters. This gentleness of soul was carried into the home, where his loved ones were ever the object of his tenderest solicitude. It is not my intention to invade the sanctity of the charmed family circle, and therefore it must suffice to merely remark that under his own roof the sweetness of a Christ-like disposition was beautifully displayed. I have seen him, when in the grip of agonies which made him groan round the room, force himself to sit down and write a [72] brief note or send off a newspaper to his boys in America. On his deathbed, during the six long months of patient waiting for the end, whenever I visited him, he would be most urgent in his enquiries as to the welfare of his daughter, Melba, who was at that time keeping the books at the "Austral" office.

      The words of Mrs. Maston convey only the barest truth when she writes: "Mr. Maston's devotion to his family was very beautiful. Every day during his long illness, he would speak of our two sons, who are absent in America. Harry and Roy, on account of their father's illness, were both very reluctant to leave home, but Mr. Maston urged them to go; he would not allow his illness to prevent them from taking advantage of the best opportunities to equip themselves for useful lives. Only at the earnest entreaty of his married daughter did he consent to send for Melba, who was pursuing her studies at Carr-Burdette College, in Sherman, Texas. He was very deeply attached to Hobia, our married daughter, who assisted him at the office for many years, and also to her husband, Mr. Sydney Gole. At the beginning of this year, as he began to realise that he could not go about much longer, he made them a visit in their home at Mosman's Bay, Sydney, intending to stay during the N.S.W. Conference. His sufferings, however, compelled him to return in a few days.

      "But his sufferings are now over, and his head is at rest. It is natural that the removal of such a devoted husband, and such a considerate and [73] loving father, should create a large vacancy in our home. But God's will is best. Soon we shall meet again in the Better Land, where farewells will be unknown."

      When he lay on his deathbed, Bro. Maston wrote two brief messages for insertion in the "Australian Christian." They are very touching, and deserve to be preserved for their own sake, and also for the fact that they express his feelings towards the brotherhood in his adopted country.

      If I should live until March 23, which falls on Saturday of this week, I will have completed fifty-four years of life in this great and glorious world. The occasion I take as an appropriate one to convey to my brethren and sisters in Christ in Australasia, my warm and continued love for them. Amongst all the rich things that I have enjoyed during the more than twenty-seven years spent among them, have been their constant love and unfailing sympathy toward me and mine. The knowledge of this sympathy and love brings to me the greatest joy in these hours of suffering. I am still hopeful of being able to spend some time of usefulness with them; but if not, I want them all to know that my face is toward the sunshine, and my hope and trust are in the infinite goodness and love of a great and loving Father. I remember also at this time that John Bardsley, of Enmore Church, N.S.W., and T. J. Gore, of Unley, S.A., started in life on this same day, and by this means I send them my hearty [74] congratulations and good wishes. I send my Christian love to all.

A. B. MASTON.

March 19, 1907.

      While I am yet unable to attend at the office, the work there, and all the interests of the "Australian Christian," are constantly in my mind. I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude for the many messages of sympathy and love which have come to me in many ways from individual brethren, from churches, and Conferences. To all the brethren who have thus thoughtfully remembered me in my illness and to all the readers of the "Australian Christian," I wish to say that the sunshine of God's great love is still around me, and His strong support still upholds me. The glad realisation of the love and fellowship of my brethren everywhere, is a continual source of joy in these otherwise dark days and nights through which I am passing. The most stupendous thing in all the world is the love of God to man; but next to that, and occupying a vast place in God's great wonderland, is the love of man to his fellows. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life," is the highest and most dazzling peak on all the mountains of God's revelation. But towering up beside this is another mountain across whose lofty summit is written in letters of gold the words of the Apostle [75] of Love, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. . . . If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."

A. B. MASTON.

April 16, 1907.

      On Wednesday afternoon, August 28, at 4 o'clock, peacefully and without pain, in complete confidence in God, and reliance upon Christ, as his Saviour, he "fell asleep in Jesus." [76]

[LABM 71-76]