Dear Bro:-
Well Ryan, no doubt before this you have rec'd the sad news of mother's death. I wrote Maime and told her to forward the letter to you to save me writing so much and when she died Wils wired Chas. And told him to wire you and Maime.
Needless to say ours is a lonely home more so on account of her being sick so long and so dependent on us for every thing.
As for me, I feel completely lost without having to give the attentions and care so necessary while she was here. We have had her bed in the parlor for two or three years so no one can realize the loneliness of its absence and the vacant chair. But all this is natural I suppose and people must be reasonable. We have done our best in many ways for her but even since she has gone I see in how many ways I might have been more thoughtful etc. but we are all human and have many failings. She was 79 last Jan. 31 so she has been spared to us till a good age but it seems a struggle to give them up at any time. It is well there is One knows best when we can be made bereft and The Same One supplies sustaining grace. She has been a good mother to us all and the memory of her noble life is a better legacy than one of wealth.
I will try and give you the details as well as I can and I'm sure when I have finished you cannot help but feel comforted for more reasons than one.
The letter Maime was to forward you gave all the news from she took the stroke on Fri. till the next afternoon. On Sat. night about 12 we all stood around the bed with Uncle Dan & Aunt Jennie here. She took a bad turn and we thought she was gone but she rallied. We think it was a second stroke. On Sunday she began to open her eyes once in a while and became more conscious each day although she could not speak. She seemed to know us all when she would waken for when we asked her if she knew this one or that she attempted to say "yes". When anyone came in she would hold up her hand to shake hands. One day John came into the room and when he sat down beside the bed she held out her hand and when he took it she started to cry. After a while we wanted to fix the bed and he moved to one side. Her eyes followed him so pleadingly as much as to say "Don't dare leave" so he came back and held her and she was satisfied. Every time we changed her bed the last two days three men had to lift her. She did not seem to suffer, if she did she was not conscious of it.
About four p.m. on Fri. we noticed her breath getting shorter and quicker and kept that way till after 12. When we thought she would live till morning. Some were having lunch when the rest noticed her breath growing fainter. We hurried to her beside and she was gone in ten minutes - without a struggle - at 01. Sat. morning. One minute before she died she opened her eyes up wide and as I was directly in front of her she looked at me then rolled them around till they fell on Wils - the most peaceful, thankful look I ever saw - then closed them and was gone.
We carried out her wishes just as she wanted them. Father Fleming from Kept. - a dear old man came down the Wed. before she took sick and she was so well enjoyed his visit. We sent for him again Mon. after she took sick and she knew him and seemed to realise what was ahead of her. He gave her the last rites of her church and anointed her for death and Ryan it would surely give you comfort when nothing else would to see how happy she was and her last days and hours were so peaceful you would almost have envied her.
Her wishes were to be taken to the church in Kempt. And then buried beside Father, a somewhat unusual course but Father Fleming was quite agreeable. Of course a priest never goes to a Prot. Cemetery and we could not expect that. However he is such a broad-minded man and understood our position that he did everything in his power to make the trial easier for us.
It rained so much that week that the roads were very bad but they ventured with cars and found them very good. It would have been such a tiresome trip and Mon, the day she was buried was bright but a strong cold west wind was blowing. Of course there was no service at the house but Mrs. Thos Dougall played "Lead Kindly Light" while the body was taken away. Our lane was so wet they did not venture into the yard so carried Mother to the road. The bearers were Joe and Leo Laughlin, John Roach (Catholics), Wesley Hoy, Sandy Kerr, Sam Brown. It was one of the many hard parts of the occasion to see her leave the home more so without a service but we felt comforted knowing it was her wish and the custom of her church. There were 14 cars left the house and when we got to Kempt. There was a big crowd there many of whom followed to the grave. Father Fleming came right to the gates of the cemetery so you see how good he was. Mr. Clark our minister here had a short service at the grave which made it easier for us again. Mr. Clark has been a great friend of mother's and altho' he knew her own clergyman visited her and what her wishes were he thought so much of her he came down after morning and evening services Sunday before she died and twice thru the week. If she was awake she would hold out her hand to him. He paid her a great tribute from the pulpit on Sunday. He said her broad-mindedness, her noble life, etc had broken down all barriers of sect and religion for him.
Although the weather was miserable St. & Sun. after mother died the house was full especially on Sunday. She was a dear good, wonderful mother and I hope her life will help to make the rest of us follow her example. I would like to go west for a change but can't because the boys who feel her absence as keenly as I. It is nice to feel she and Father are again together also Lawrence awaiting the rest of us. It makes the thought of death easier for me and why not and why should we worry?
Well I must close as it is nearly mail time. All are well. No seeding done yet. Boys going to plant corn tomorrow.
Ryan did you ever get that note I sent you some time ago. Mother told me to send it to you and consider it no more. Let us know.
Hope Alta and kiddies are well.
Tell Howard I got his card and will write him later.