Hartford [Connecticut]
April 16, 1882
My dear Augusta,
Your letter came to me yesterday P.M. and I am so filled
with sorrow for you that I cannot refrain from saying a few words to you at
once. I cannot – peaceful and happy as I am now – forget the lonely years of
past widowhood, and so my heart is full of sympathy for you in this first
keenness of your grief. When time has softened this, I am sure there will be
many sources of comfort and consolation come to you, and you will come to
peaceful thoughts of the dear husband called away to partake of the reward he
has so richly earned.
As I recall his early labors and your united sacrifices for
“suffering Kansas” and then contrast that life and condition with the Kansas
of today, I cannot but feel that you have realized in a measure already some
compensation for your struggles and labors for the Master. And now add to these,
dear Augusta, the joyful welcome which your dear husband has received; “Well
done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou has been faithful over a few things.
I shall make thee ruler over many things. Enter then into the joy of thy
Lord.” Henceforth your life here will be a lonely one, but you will have
greater companionship with Heaven, for “when your treasure is there, will your
heart be also.” So be comforted my dear niece and think of the dear husband as
but gone before, and that one day will come a joyful reunion.
You could not tell me in this first sad letter any thing of
your plans, but I shall hope to hear more from you soon feeling sure that you
will believe that I am deeply interested in all that pertains to your welfare. I
am so glad to know that your dear [son] John was able to be with you and comfort
you, though so greatly needed by his wife [and his newborn child]. I trust [your
son] Willie is much better now & that you have become more calm. Will you
write and tell me whether you would like a crape veil and a summer shawl – a
very nice grenadine one – which I would like to send you if they would be
helpful to you?
It
is time to prepare for church & so I must leave you. I have recently had the
comfort of a visit from my sister Em. She left me last Wednesday. Sometime I
trust you will become acquainted with my dear husband. Six months of married
life has bound us very closely together and my home here with his family is a
very delightful one. Will you write soon to me? I will send your letter to [my
step-son] Jamie [Goodrich] who I am sure will have tender sympathy for his dear
“Cutie.” Let me hear from you
soon again.
With
love to your dear children, your loving and sympathizing,
Aunt
Mary [Johnston Goodrich]
