A paper given by Mrs. Moore to her daughter. (No date, supposed to be written in July, 1809.) My dear Jane,-I am endeavouring as far as I am able, to submit to the will of God, and to trust in his mercy, that it is for my dear John's eternal happiness that ' he has been snatched from this world: but my feelings are too strong for my reason, ' and I cannot bring my mind to be reconciled to his loss. And the new cause of anxiety ' for Graham will, I fear, be too powerful for 'me to support; and I confess to you, that 6 6 6 my mind is what I think in greatest danger. I appear to have a constitution 'that can stand anything, but my spirits are gone, and I am a burden to myself; and I would receive it as a token of God's mercy 'to be taken from this world. I know 'you would be shocked; but consider, my dear, what comfort you can expect of me ' after seventy-five, and with such a load of " sorrow. If that event should happen before 'Graham's return, I request of you not to 6 6 'leave Brook Farm. Have always a friend with you, but endeavour to amuse yourself in improving, and taking an interest in everything that can promise to be advantageous to your Brother. This is the duty pointed out to you, and the way to make yourself useful, and I hope your piety will support you in fulfilling it. Painful as life ' is to me, I would be contented to live some years longer for your sake, if I could be any ' comfort to you; but my distresses have been 'too great for me to be able to support and preserve any degree of cheerfulness, and my 'dread at present is, living to be a burden upon you. Soon after writing the inclosed, I had the inexpressible comfort to see my dear · Graham return in health, and in the pleasure of seeing him, my affliction was a little 'softened, and I was willing to encourage it; ' and as far as in me lay, I have endeavoured 'to support myself by looking to the good ⚫ children that remain, and to the many bless ings in my lot, far above what I deserve. I feel that I ought to be grateful for my ⚫ mercies, and to submit with patience and resignation to the Divine will. But it is my 'misfortune not to be able to act up to what 'I know is my duty. Every day adds to the 'sensibility of my loss, and I have no longer 'the power to make any exertion. A deep and profound melancholy has 'taken possession of my mind, and I find coming upon me what I have dreaded since 'the beginning, that my life should be length'ened for a distress, no comfort for my family. 'If, contrary to my fears, it should please 'God in his mercy to relieve me, it must be ' a satisfaction to you, my dear Jane, to think that my prayers have been heard, and that 'God Almighty has been graciously pleased to close a life which could never more 'know happiness in this world. 'I hope your dutiful and affectionate ' attention to me will be a source of conso lation for you; and I hope your mind will 'be strengthened to bear up under the dis'tresses of this life, and that you will find support in the good that you are enabled 'to do and your situation will admit of your 'living sociably with a few friends; and I 'hope you will not seclude yourself, but indulge in the society of those friends whom you find your heart leads to, under the pro⚫tection of your brothers. I cannot have any fear that you will not receive every proof ' of kindness and affection from them. In that hope, and from every consideration, I ' will leave this world with joy; conceiving that 'I no longer can be of either use or comfort 'to my children, whose happiness it has ever 'been the first wish of my heart to promote.' THE END. |