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3. Mark 9:24. 4. John 10:29. 5. John 20:28. 6. Verse from a hymn by Joseph Addison, “When All Thy Mercies O God” (1712). 106 to mary gray otis [The following is one of the last known letters from mow. Although physically weakened, she never seems to have lost either her mental faculties or her spirit, even after this letter. Mary Otis, mow’s sister-in-law, has just lost her husband, mow’s brother Samuel Allyne Otis, who was the secretary to the U.S. Senate from April 8, 1789, until his death on April 22, 1814.] Plymouth May 24th 1814 I have just heard that my dear sister has finished her melancholy journey & that she and her dear Children have arrived in health at the former residence of their excellent father. To dilate on the subject of the death of my beloved brother is too much for me. Yet, I cannot forbear to take up my pen which I should have done before, had I known where and in what situation to find you. I do it not now with any idea of giving consolation to the afflicted bosom. I do it because it is my duty & because I shall ever love to converse with those so dear to my excellent brother as my own Sister & his Children. If I can say but little that is comforting, I console myself that you do not stand in need of it. Your consolations are derived from an higher source than any thing that can be expressed by the tongue or the pen of a feeble mortal. Especially from one who feels so much for the loss of a brother & friend. May 25—This was begun yesterday with design to send by this mornings post, but unavoidably interrupted. I have now the satisfaction to tell you that I have this day heard by my Son that he has visited you & found you as he expected calm and resigned. I was glad to hear he found you with your charming friends from the Retreat.1 How will you delight, on [??] & [??] each other on to the rest enjoyed before us by our beloved deceased. 256  to mary otis, may 1814 I have heard few circumstances relative to the sickness & death of my brother. Did he suffer much bodily pain? Were his intellectual powers continual ? Was he willing the tender ties of nature should break[?] asunder at the call of his heavenly Father? My dear Harriet will write me soon & as soon as she is able my Sister will do this also. As to myself, I feel daily bending towards to the tomb under a weight of years and infirmities—yet, considering my age am remarkably well & do not despair of seeing you and your Children once more around my Elbow Chair. My family at the other house know not that I am writing, else their affectionate sympathies would accompany this. My Amanuensis has a very feeling heart—a heart formed for friendship which he has ever felt in the highest degree for Uncle Otis & family. He says no more on this subject at this time but requests your acceptance & also that of his Cousins of his affectionate sympathies. The recollection of a visit made me a short time before he went on to Washington has been & will be a source of comfort to me. Yet I recollect his going backward to the door, getting into the carriage & fixing his eyes upon his Sister as she stood at the window, looking at his intelligent countenance where she thought she read in every feature that he never expected to behold her faded countenance again in this world. He doubtless expected to weep for her—it was more natural than to think she could live to pour the tear of grief over his manes with his other surviving friends. May we my dear Sister, while we tarry be diligent followers of those who through faith and patience are inheriting the promises! This is the evening & the morning prayer of Yr feeble Sister, Warren mwp2, draft 1. Mary has gone to visit her cousin Sarah Gray Cary and Sarah’s husband, Samuel, at the Cary homestead, the Retreat, in Chelsea, Massachusetts. [Mercy Otis Warren continued to correspond with Sarah Gray Cary, and her last known letter was dated July 14. Shortly after a visit from that epistolary friend, Warren died at home on October 19, 1814, in the presence of her surviving sons.] to mary otis, may 1814  257 [3.21...

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