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65 letter 24  To James Lorimer and Josephine Graham January 28, 1862 New York City, New York 28 Jan 1862 My dear friends You have heard!1 Give us your pity for we are struck through the heart. Were it not for the six years of happiness that I have had from Willy’s beautiful life, I should say to you,“be thankful that you are childless for you are spared the anguish we suffer.” I cannot write you much about the circumstances of his death, it is hard to write about him, but I wish our friends to know all, for I want their remembrance of my child. He was sick only from Monday morning till Tuesday morning. Stoddard did not know that he was dying and went down town as usual on Tuesday morning, leaving me alone with him. I soon grew alarmed, then deadly sick myself, I got people in the room but I did not know then that he was dying. I went out of the room I was in such distress, and presently I was told that he was dead. We carried him to Mattapoisett and buried him where my family have been buried for generations, we went alone for Wilson could not get on from Baltimore till the day after we arrived in Mattapoisett. We could not send for the Taylors, we did not know where Bayard was. Tom Aldrich2 and Thompson3 were here the night he died & my relations the Barstows came also. Miss Swift with whom we board did what a mother would have done for us, we could do nothing except what those can do who are stunned. It is all over now, all over but our grief which will not end. I have been ill, confined to my room, and Stoddard has been miserable in health also, but we are better in health now. I try to feel resigned but I cannot, Stoddard is a Christian and dwells on the idea of Willy’s eternal happiness.4 I dwell on the idea of my loss, and am devoured by a longing love which continually cries to have him back.5 God knows however that I do not ask that, I know too well the miseries which fill life at the last, I could not 66 dare to choose anything for myself. Never was Willy so lovely and so bright as he was through the autumn—a little while before he died he seemed inspired by a warmer affection for us. He made us come to his bedside, and kissed us dozens of times before he would settle himself to sleep. “Where did my spirit come from,” he asked me one day. “Were you very happy when you found me?” He made a funny picture the last evening he was well, and printed over it A Joke. I found it on my table after his hand had lost his cunning—do you wonder that I value it now? Dear Lorimer I wish for Stoddard’s sake that you were here, he is trying to write, trying to make the time go forgetfully by, we sit here alone evening upon evening, silent now and now weeping together for our lost boy. Next month Bayard will be here with his wife, and we shall find some companionship. Wilson could only get off from his duties for forty-eight hours. He was stunned by the blow for Willy was dear to him. Do you feel the darkness of the times where you are—Things are at a stand still. Suspicion, impatience, doubt fill the public mind. Let us hear from you. Dear Josie is your health better, if it is I feel that you have not travelled off in vain. Stoddard says he has written you today. I hope we have not made your hearts ache, but I must ask you for your loving sympathy in this, the darkest season of my life. Yours affectionately, Elizabeth DBS Manuscript: Allison-Shelley Collection, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Pennsylvania State University Libraries notes 1. Willy Stoddard died on December 17, 1861. According to a letter written by Richard, the Stoddards thought he had the measles, contracted during a visit to the Five Points Sunday School. After Willy and two other children died, the disease was believed to be scarlet fever (Letter to James Lorimer Graham, January 28, 1862, Allison-Shelley Collection, Pennsylvania State University). On January 3, 1862, Lorimer Graham wrote to Richard, telling him that he had...

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