Letter 150. To a Widow. on her Husband’s Death

My Dear Madam,

I cannot tell you how deeply I feel for your sorrow. I loved your dear husband with a most special affection, for many reasons, but chiefly for his goodness and piety. One feels that in these times, when there is such a dearth of holy souls among the highest classes of society, such a loss is very great to the world at large. But, dear lady, we must accept the conditions of our present life — 2 l brief, mortal life; and death, which has the mastery over it, has no set rules: he seizes one or another, so to say, without choice or plan — ^good and evil, old and young. Happy they who ever live so expecting death that they look through it to the eternal life which knows no ending!

The dear one we have lost was of these; and that alone may comfort us — for in a little while, more or less, we shall follow him, and the ties and companionships begun here will be knit again, never more to be loosed. So let us be patient, and wait bravely till the hour of our departure comes; let us go on loving •those we have loved so dearly here, no less where they now are; and let us do that which they would have wished, and do still wish, for very love of them.

Most unquestionably, my dear friend, the foremost wish of your husband would be that you should not give way over-much to your grief at his loss, but that you should strive to moderate it for the sake of that great love you bear him. Be sure that in his present blessed state, where he awaits you confidently, he asks that you may receive a holy consolation, and that you may calm your grief and use your eyes for a better purpose than tears, your mind for more worthy tasks than mere sorrow. He has left you some precious pledges of your union — ^use your eyes for their benefit, and your mind for the raising and developing theirs. Do this for love of that cherished husband. Believe that it was his parting wish, — ^that he still requires it of you. All indulged grief may be natural to your earthly heart, which is still in this world, but it is altogether contrary to his heart, which is safely stored in the next world.

True love ever seeks to please its object, and therefore, for love of your husband, I bid you be comforted; lift up your heart, and take courage. Strive, if you can, to cast yourself before the Lord, accepting His*

Will, and dwelling upon the thought of your dear one, who desires above all things to see you stedfast in finn Christian resolutions. So give yourself up wholly to the Heavenly guidance of the Saviour of your soul, Who will lead and comfort you, and will finally reunite you to your treasure, no longer as mere husband and wife, but as co-heritors of the Kingdom of Heaven, and as eternal and faithful lovers.

I have written hastily, almost without a moment’s leisure, but my long-standing friendship for you and your husband would not let me be silent Llay God ever be with you. Amen.

1:839.3 CLVI.