You have so recently heard from and about those of us left here, and
that in a so much more satisfactory way than through letters, that it
scarcely seems worth while to write just yet. But Mary left Kate's poor
little baby in such a pitiable state, that I think it will be a relief
to all to hear that its sufferings are ended. It died about ten o'clock
the night that she left us, very quietly and without a struggle, and at
sunset on Friday we laid it in its last resting-place. My husband and I
went out in the morning to select the spot for its burial, and finding
the state of affairs in the cemetery, we chose a portion of ground and
will have it inclosed with a railing. They have been very careless in
the management of the ground, and have allowed persons to inclose and
bury in any shape or way they chose, so that the whole is cut up in a
way that makes it difficult to find a place where two or three graves
could be put near each other. We did find one at last, however, about
the size of the Hazel Wood lots; and we will inclose it at once, so that
when another, either from our own family or those of the other branches,
wants a resting-place, there shall not be the same trouble. Poor old
Timmy lies there; but it is in a part of the grounds where, the sexton
tells us, the water rises within three feet of the surface; so, of
course, we did not go there for this little grave. His own family
selected his burial-place, and probably did not think of this.
Kate takes her loss very patiently, though she says that she had no idea
how much she would grieve after the child. It had been sick so long that
she said she wanted to have it go; but I knew when she said it that she
did not know what the parting would be. It is not the parting alone, but
it is the horror of the grave,--the tender child alone in the far off
gloomy burial-ground, the heavy earth piled on the tender little breast,
the helplessness that looked to you for protection which you could not
give, and the emptiness of the home to which you return when the child
is gone. He who made a mother's heart and they who have borne it, alone
can tell the unutterable pain of all this. The little child is so
carefully and tenderly watched over and cherished while it is with
you,--and then to leave it alone in the dread grave where the winds and
the rain beat upon it! I know they do not feel it, but since mine has
been there, I have never felt sheltered from the storms when they come.
The rain seems to fall on my bare heart. I have said more than I meant
to have said on this subject, and have left myself little heart to write
of anything else. Tell Mammy that it is a great disappointment to me
that her name is not to have a place in my household. I was always so
pleased with the idea that my Susan and little Cygnet should grow up
together as the others had done; but it seems best that it should not be
so, or it would not have been denied. Tell Mary that Chloe staid that
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account