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[Mulkish] May 20th 1860
Dear Cousin
No doubght you will
think that I have forgotten to answer
your kind letter which came to [home]
about three weeks scince but it is not
the case, I should have written before
but was expecting a situation and
thought I would [Illegible] when I got
situated but things have changed -
it becomes my painful duty to inform
you of the death of my Dear Mother
She departed this life on the 14th [Illegible]
her death was quite unexpected
although she was in very poor health
we little thought that the changes
(which we have all to undergo) was so
near. She had been ailing [reather] more
[than is] common for two or three days -
before near death. And the night on
which she died I was in her
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bedroom talking to her and asking
what I should tell the [doctor] who I was
going to consult the next day [she]
answered me quite distinctly and
did not seem by any outward appearance,
to be worse than she had for several
days this was about. 8 P.M. about half
past 8 she was [taken out to] a violent
pain in the bowels which caused a
great deal of sufering - sister Annie
applied every thing which [cold] be of
any use no such case without effect
At about [10] O clock my sister [Kate]
came and they applied hot cloths to the bowels
[Illegible] to the feet and [Illegible] - but
without effect about 11 O clock she
fainted away fater she came to she was
not concious of having done so although
she retained her faculties - in a few
minutes after that she fainted away
again she kept getting worse untill
about half past 12 on Thursday night.
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The spirit fled to the one who gave
it. I can hardly realize that she is
gone. I cannot describe my feelings
although we have this consolation that
"we do not [mourn] as those without hope"
we know that she uis [severed] from a
life of pain and sorrow to one of [perpetual]
joy and gladness, it is another [time]
to [bind] us to those who have gone before
the [word] of her death was sent to all the
friends but [they] were not all able to
get to see her before she was buried
Father was going to have her [removell]
to the city for interment but was
persuaded to [bearry] her in Mulkish
she lies in the burying ground by the
[meeting] house [The] Rev'd Mr England
from the [Portland] [Illegible] was up
on the occasion, the funeral took place
on Sunday at [3] P.M. he [Illegible]
[Illegible] the words which are contained
in the [fifth fourth of Isiah] - we all do -
- fade as a leaf
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her brother Thomas & Joseph
sisters [Mrs Whiteside] and [Illegible]
was the only ones of her [Illegible] could
get here. Your sister Annie was
up and [Illegible] two or three days
all of her children was at home
[Illegible]
she died about writing to you [Illegible]
[Illegible]
the pleasure of seeing you [Illegible]
again for me to give [Illegible] her love
to you and your family. Uncle
Thomas is better at [Illegible]
has been for a good [10 mile] although
[five] is far from being [well] - the [Illegible]
said for him not to be left alone on
any considerations - the family are
all well as common - [Bill Brenage] still
acts as bad as the devil will let him
I made inquiries about those [Books]
[Cousin Annie] has the Geography
and the large [Illegible] the Pleasures of
[hope] is at our house I cannot get
any information about the companion
to the bible - Aunt Whiteside [said] that it
is not at her house. I sympathize
with Samuel Henderson if I had any
money I should lend it to him - I will
advise you to write to [M Whiteside] about what
you spoke [to me is] well able [And to my]
it is no more than right
I hope the time is not far distant when
I can [recompense] you for [your kindness?]
although if I was in [Illegible]
should feel [Illegible]
them if it was [Illegible] of my [Illegible]
please excuse this short [Illegible]
write soon as possible and I shall
write you a longer letter and give
you all the information that you
want [Illegible]
Give my regards to [Illegible] and
the children yours
Joseph B Fenwick
