CALLAGHAN & COMPANY,
114 Monroe Street.
Law Booksellers.
Chicago, June 15 1886
My Dear Father & Mother,
God in his wisdom
has seen fit to visit and call
to Himself one more of His
children. His will be done.
Sudden and unexpected as the news
has been, we know and are consoled
by the thought that she died prepared
and ready to meet and dwell with
Him forever. Tis [It is?] sad, poor
dear Nellie so young so full of
hope with the prospects of so
bright and happy a future, but
it was Gods will and He knows
what is best. so with a sad farewell
I say may her soul rest
in peace. To you dear Father &
Mother let me lay myself down at
your feet and offer to you the love
of a whole life, a life full of regret
for the many sorrows and heartaches
I have given you, and by the grave
of my dear Sister I promise to offer
you all the atonement I am capable
of towards the payment of a debt
of gratitude so long withheld.
To Nellies poor husband let
me offer a few words of sympathy no
one will miss her like him. What
can be greater than the loss of a faithful
and loving wife, who can feel it like
him who shares his future, who pledges
before his God to love and honor her,
who will miss her so much, or whose
sorrow will be greater. To him I
offer my heartfelt sympathy & may
God care for, watch and protect him
in his lonely hours.
When the first sad shock
is over, let us look at death and what is
there in it but a few short years of
separation, it is a road we all have to
travel today or tomorrow, and if we are
prepared when it comes what can be
sweeter to those who have passed away than
the passage from this hard and cruel
world to the arms of our Blessed
Redeemer, there to be forever in His
loving presence, and with those who
have led a pure and holy life on
this earth - Forever & Forever.
The last sad rites are over
one more pure soul has passed
away. God has watched over her
in her youth and womanhood. He
sees fit to call her. Your work
is done, and no sad memories of
neglected duty will ever cause you
pain. That you have recovered
my dear Father is our earnest prayer,
and that God in His Goodness may
spare you my dear parents until your
work is done and your crown of
glory completed. Rest your weary
heads on the bosom of Christ our
Lord and in your pious prayers
remember us. With a sad and
sorrowful heart I close this
saddest of letters & may God have
mercy and spare you long lives
and Happy Deaths. With fondest
love from all believe me ever to
be your loving child to Death.
Edward J Hanlon
Had a letter from Mary yesterday
she has a little girl. She will
feel so badly for poor Nellie.
Tell Mother to keep up. How hard
it must be for her. God have
mercy on you & her.
(Transcribed by Peter Best.)
