Mrs. O. A. Bartholomew Jonesville, Michigan
Dear Mother and Percy--
Mary has written you from day today of Loraine's illness and of the end which came day before yesterday. Yesterday we laid her away forever.
I wish you could have been with her in her last sickness and seen her as we saw her yesterday asleep in her coffin. As many said it was impossible to keep away from her as she looked so at rest. Not a wrinkle not a sign of the load she has carried her whole sickness. Not a word of the imaginary troubles that she had carried so long and had weighed so heavily upon her and us.
For 4 days before she died I was sitting by the bed holding her hands which I did almost by hours for days before she died. She said "Well I am going to die. I am so glad I went home and saw Mother. It did me and Mother so much good." I cannot tell you how sad and yet how happy the ending was. No suffering in the end and in death she looked as I never saw her before in life so at rest and in the...
These long years a burden to herself and those who loved her and whom she loved.
Mary has or will give you all the details. It seems like a dream to me. And until 10 days ago we never dreamed that the end had come. No doubt the disease was coming on for years and her mental condition was beyond her control. I am so glad that I waited (?) to the end and so glad that the end was peaceful and happy. She died without a struggle almost and during...
(from ?. Need to find rest of letter)
E. C. BARTHOLOMEW
Room 5, Masonic Temple
Real Estate and Loans
Austin, Texas, Aug. 17, 1895
Dear Mother and Percie:
I have just returned from my second trip to Galveston and do not feel like writing but I suppose you will wish to hear regarding Loraine's death. Mary asked me to write. I am sorry you could not have been there, for the impression you would have received wuold have been so favorable. Although I have never before attended the funeral of a relative, I have seen many dead people, but never nothing like this. When I say her countenance was beautify, as she lay in the coffin, I do not half express it. She looked from 20 to 25 years younger, not a wrinkle and a pleasanter expression you could not imagine. Her complexion was perfect, and with her eyes closed, she looked like a "sleeping beauty." You could not help thinking she was having the happiest dreams. There was nothing about her that looked like death save the coffin. It seemed impossible to believe she could even have had an unpleasant thought, or have spoken a harsh word. There was nothing that shone forth from her countenance except purity. I never before knew that she had such regular features. Mary had combed her hair in a very becoming, careless manner, and had not the gray hairs shown, she would have been taken for a girl. Her lips, chin, eyes and every part of her face seemed perfectly natural, and none of us could feel when looking upon her that she was dead. It was hard to believe that there was to be a funeral. We wanted to look at her all of the time, and it was hard to keep Mary away, which we didn't try to do. I am not writing my own thoughts only, but those of every one that saw her. Will Sinclair said it carried him back to the time they were married. She looked so much as she did at that time. The expression of a dead friend is usually disagreeable to remember. It is pleasant in the case of Loraine, and I do wish yuo could have seen her.
She requested to be buried in the dress she wore when Stanley graduated. Will had a magnificent casket, and her friends sent a large amount of beautiful flowers. Will advertised the funeral private, as he didn't wish a big display, still Mary's house was filled. The remains were taken from the Beach Hotel to her house as the hotel is such a public place. Rev. C. M. Beckwith, Rector of Trinity Church, officiated at the house and grave. He visited Loraine two or three times while she was sick. The funeral took place at 4 p.m. on yesterday, and it was about half past six when we returned from the cemetery. On our return I stopped at the Beach Hotel and took supper with Will and the boys. Afterwards all of us went to the room where Loraine was sick and spent the evening. Will spoke of her having so many scrap books and got out some of them to show me. In opening the first one it happened to be at one of Loraine's large photographs and to the bottom of the picture Will found pasted some pretty verses to her husband. It seemed singular that he should first open the book at that place one scrap book is filled with notices she has cut from papers regarding Will.
I dislike traveling very much, but I am glad I made both trips to Galveston. My first visit with her was very pleasant. She had told them she wanted to see me. My last visit--though sad--has impressed me more favorably than even before and I shall always remember her countenance as last I saw it.
It was beautiful, grand, spiritual. I have slept very little the past two nights--am tired--and have written hastily. I must let Mary tell the rest.
Yours affectionately,
Eugene
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