Dear Miss Blue,

St Stephen the Martyr. A lovely grey stone church around the corner in the Village. Whenever I pass by I hurry softly so as not to disturb the martyrness of St Stephen. Further conflicting thoughts re. the usefulness of the martyr's anguish: The martyr is hated for his powerful belief, scorned by those souls of less imaginative and creative spirit who are unable to know the triumph of the spirited being. Sad, but true. St Stephen was stoned to death and one of the first martyrs. A cause defined by goodness.  By the way, whatever has happened to Celia Coxcomb? I read about a tragic incident involving a martyr-type wife and a dalliancing husband. Strange coincidence? Maybe.

Give Fannie my best. Tell her I am working hard on the Fishermen story and hope to have it finished by Dec 26, St Stephen's Day. Forever Pearl