Letter from Helen Berry, May 27, 1875

Letter from Helen Berry, May 27, 1875

Correspondence--1870-1880

An eight page letter discussing various matters including the sickness of a Mr. A, the death of a local girl and Helen and Mr. Johns.

1875-05-27

6 JPEGs

600 ppi

English

1875_05_27_bl

Brompton (Fredericksburg, VA)

Brompton May 27/75


I [ ] dearest [ ] to write to you during the week of Mr. A sickness but hoping to send better tidings than “not so well today” the fatal day came when my sorrow & [ ] was [ ] & didn’t soon write a postal. By this time you know, how far from an illness [ ] death we considered his case but unnecessary to spread[ ] when he would be up in a few days & so you may gather what a horrible shock it was. My great anxiety was that he might get to Rick [ ] & add his wisdom & fearless [ ] to whatever might be best for the church. And I think if engross’d his [ ] perhaps unfavorably for he told me it was a council he had look’d forward to with more [ ] than for four or five years. His depart was so peaceful as to bring to our minds the words of the prophet. “May I die the death of the righteous & may my last end be like his.” If he felt the presence of death & he may he fully carried out his thoughts on the subject for I’ve often heard him say, it was a very small matter as it concerned the great end of all things, a preparation for that was the business of life. (?) must not be amaz’d when it came. But God has taken an earnest servant in His work away & [ ] shall look in [ ] perhaps for his equal in every relation in life, husband, father, friend, citizen!! And in all this was the look & obedience to his God so infused that he felt the peace of God whc paseth understanding.

Don’t you remember how often people wld criticize his rapidity as a funeral? We had a sad death last Sunday of a lovely little child of Dr. Murdaugh 12 yrs old, Ada remembers Belle, she died of [ ] from this week was to have been quite a festival one in our ch as so many of the council [ ] [ ] [ ] to come home with Dr M who did not go & Mr A was to stay too. A mystery mystery much is on every side. Then let us betake our [ ] to a more [ ] view of the few present moments – we don’t know - & [ ] our flagging faith by more earnest prayers for grace & faith & Lord what will thou leave thy servant to do? A sad letter dear child but it relieves my heart & does you no harm – there are many around you who will suffer the loss of Mr. A friendship – a profitable one too; but your misfortunes are not added… [end page1]

…to directly, save in his ministry, as many others. Well [ ] has been so concern’d by these sad occurences in his absence that she did tell any little but now begins to say how very pleasant it was_ Sam [ ] of Louisa. Taylor & everyone she can knew didn’t at Dr. Coleman’s & was bewilder’d by the charms of Dr Coleman says he is the most splendid man she ever saw. admires Mrs. C. very much & wishes she wld come to B_ the only alloy was: the day she din’d at C. she was prevailed to stay & go to ch. from there & it being cool in the [ ] Mrs. C. lent her one of those elegant striped shawls as she had not worn anything round her it was stolen by [brilliant I should have said] a hall thief off the rack (where she had no business to put it) She left Louise to negotiate an offer of the same gnacity & with a (?) from here to Mrs. C. It occr’d the day before she left [ ] arrived at this depot soon after our dear pastor died. & it was announced in the cars before [ ] left & she said there was a maid of sorrow in the car as they were nearly all ministers and she says the Bishop wept aloud. Mr. Johns came with [ ] and left us yesterday eve. He is very lovely. I like him better than (?) I did. They [ ] determined that Helen shall come home & he says if she is not willing to stay here without much of him. Mr. Mason you remember Dick? He married Nannie Johns & he offers as he has just given up his change in Maryland to go to N. and preach for Mr. J. until the grand misery is over.

[ ] saw Lily Marshall in R and she is to be here on Saturday for a visit of a few days.

Tell dear Ada I will write an answer to her nice letter in a little while, for it surely did make me feel happy to find that her feathers were all out & she cld fly – I had a letter indeed several from Sally on the subject of [ ] being burnt. She says her father’s papers were saved but very little else expresses a great desire to see you all & says it wld be a roundabout way to get home but I certainly would like to see there. She doesn’t know where they will live. I do hope it may be where I can see them. I wish they wld come here plenty empty houses. [ ] old Ford-g!!! Mrs. S. But & Willy are to be home on the 8th of June & perhaps we shall be glad. Y – e – s. ma’am. My pleasure is very much mixed up in hearing from you all dear [ ] Therefore let it be & give so much love to the dear ones of Nans & Sally & Danes & everyone else from your devoted ma

dear [ ] & [ ]

[ ] I’m so glad you have Ellen. Is the baby alive? I must bring it a dress. You must excuse this awful letter, but I’ve been [ ] [ ] Miss bride having very little caliber this morn.

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