folder 15: October–December 1852

[upper right corner] Goshen Oct 16^th 1852

Dearest Hannah

Yesterday brought the news to me of the dreadful loss you and dear William have met with in the death of your darling little Belle - Dearest sister my heart bleeds for you both, and deeply so. I sympathize with you in this great trial, that our Heavenly Father has seen fit to afflict you with, and oh I pray he has given you strength to bear it with resignation, and say thy will be done - Oh I know it is a hard, hard thing to bear, and we are so sinful that at first we are almost tempted to rebell [sic], but in trouble we have no where to flee but to him for help, and we never seek it in vain, he will heal the wound his hand has seen fit to inflict Thine whome [sic] the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and each cord he severs brings us nearer to him - You have the blessed consolation of knowing your precious one is now an inhabitant of that bright and beautiful world & saved forever from all the troubles of this

world for at best it is a world of sorrow and suffering and you would not , if you could bring that dear one back however much you shall miss her dear little step and voice, that voice is now poured fourth [sic] in hymns of praise and Angels are her companions --

But words are useless on such occasions when your wound is bleeding. God help you dearest Hannah and bless and keep you all, you have yet many blessings left you in your other dear little ones and Husband - Do my dear when you can write me I shall be so glad to hear from you. I shall try and come and see if but for a day or or [sic] so when Lizzie comes - so I can leave the children with her - she will be down in a couple of weeks I think

I have had much sickness in my family - we have all been down but are now all about again though all looking very badly

John and children unite with me in much love to you all May God in his mercy help you dear Hannah in

this your first and great affliction

Your affectionate

Margaret Bernard

[round postmark stamp, left of page] DARIEN OCT 16 Ga.

[right of page] 5

M^rs William Couper Frederica St Simons Isld Georgia

[right of page] Savannah 16 October 1852

My dear friend

I was truly distressed to learn by the receipt of your letter of the 12^th ins^t that affliction has also laid his heavy hand on you by depriving you of your dear little daughter, we had heard rumors of your bereavement by the previous Boat. I feared it would prove true, as infants of that sort are very apt to be so

No one can tell what anguish a person suffers in the loss of one so nearly connected by the ties of Love & affection as a wife or a child until they experience it themselves, how often have we looked on the faces of departed friends & felt a sorrow, a deep & sincere one perhaps yet how far short of that anguish which affected the nearer friends & which so recently has been our portion

My dear Wife was long in a hopeless state and Physician & friends had long advised me to prepare for the worst. I could not see ^ her suffering day by day & gradually wasting away without seeing for myself what the inevitable result must be. I thought I had prepared myself for the change which I was so soon to meet, but it came far short of the reality. I may say I now know what sorrow was before, how much more keen my dear friend must have been yours, deprived of your little girl without any such preparation, it will be long ere we can realise our loss - I have derived much consolation from the reflection that my dear wife was imminently prepared for that rest which passeth all understanding, & I