A Few Weeks in Their Washington Home

They soon discovered they were much worn for their camp meeting labors. Earlier it had been announced through the Review that they hoped to attend the four western camp meetings (Ibid., May 6, 1873). What should they do? “We walked out in the orchard,” wrote Ellen White, “and had a season of prayer.” She added:2BIO 384.2

We feel very anxious to know our duty. We do not want to make any wrong move. We need sanctified judgment and heavenly wisdom to move in the counsel of God. We cry unto God for light and grace. We must have help from God or we perish. Our earnest cry is for the direction of God's Holy Spirit. We dare not move in any direction without clear light.—Manuscript 8, 1873.2BIO 384.3

Ellen pressed on with writing for the Health Reformer and Youth's Instructor, and got some work done on the life of Christ. Some of the chapters for this were now appearing as articles in the Review. James busied himself around the little farm and did some writing. Willie was with them and gave his father massage treatments. After a couple of weeks in Washington, they felt the time had come to start for Colorado. Lucinda Hall joined them, and Sunday she and Willie did most of the packing for the summer in the mountains. Monday afternoon, June 23, they took the train for Denver, Colorado.2BIO 384.4