MS Westcountry Studies Library, Exeter/ Yonge 1867/ 1¹

My dear Miss Smith,
I am ashamed and concerned at not having answered you sooner. If I had known of any thing more likely to suit your purpose than Mr Ridley’s book, I should have done so, but on Saturday I waited to see whether Sunday would inspire me with any conjecture, and I am afraid I must confess that then I forgot it My experience of school work is altogether country and of girls, and I do not know what has been put forth for boys of a little more cultivation. I suppose Steps to the Altar would be too far advanced. I have often thought a guide to using Bp Wilson would be best of all, but I am afraid there is no such thing. There are newer books, such as that Weekly preparation which Mr Keble sanctioned with his initials, or that in Mr Brett’s Churchman’s Guide but these are adapted to Weekly Communions and Mr Brett’s book is too large and has much to puzzle young boys in it. I wish I could have helped you better nor do I know a form for coming in and going out of Church. One was written for me in my first prayer book by my Father, but where he took it from I never knew. I had afterwards these printed from it to put into the school children’s Prayer books, and I send you a specimen. I see you want rather a manual for daily life than a Companion to the Altar as I thought you meant at first. Would not one of those little books with a text and a thought for each day in the year be more likely to be read and kept up than anything else. The best is by the late Arthur Acland Troyte Esq. but I cannot recollect its name though I think his name would find it at Masters’s. There is another called ‘The Brook in the Way’ by Bp Mackenzie’s youngest sister. I think what could be read daily with the year would longer have an influence than a book read straight through

yours sincerely
C M Yonge