The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-12-04
Colonel Ingerson Consoles.

OOAA1O2~ASs
San Francis'o Bulletin.
It is not la..,g since a lady of this
city was suddenly overcome by. a
great, crushing aff1iction, that coming
like thunderbolt upon her, for "a
time threatened her life. Her son and
only child had gone on short busi-
ness journey, expecting soon to re-
turn. Sudden and fatal illness over
took him, and brief telegram an
nounced the dreadful tidings to his
heart-broken mother.
A lady friend, who had sympathized
deeply with and vainly sought to con-
sole her, informed Colonel Ingersoll,
and begged him, if possible, to write
something which might at least re-
lieve in measure the terrible appre-
hension as to the fate of her son, I'M
der which she was suffering. The fol-
lowing is his letter, which, as will be,
seen by the subjoined grateful reply,
was in good measure effective. Itwas,
only upon the representation that.
like Colonel Ingersoll's widely
published remarks at the funeral
of his brother in Washington,
some years ago, these words also might
comfort other hearts which mourn" !"
that the reporter succeeded in obtain
ing copy for publication, with the
condition that the name of the recip-
lent should not be mentioned.
INGERsoLL's LETTER.
My DEAR MADAM-Mrs C-has told
me the sad story of your almost inf
mite sorrow. / am not foolish enough
to suppose that can say or do any
thing to lessen your great grief, your
anguish for his loss; but maybe / can
say something to drive from your
poor heart the fiend of fear-fear for
Him. If there is a God, let us believe.
that He is good;' and if He is good, the,
good have nothing to fear 1 have
been told that your son was kind and
generous; that he was filled with chari-
ty and sympathy. Now, we know that
in this wofld like begets like, kindness
produces kindness and all good bears,
the fruit of Joy; belief is snothing-deeds:
are everything; and if your son was:
kind, he will naturally find kindness
wherever he may be. You would not
nifiict endless pain uponyour worst
enemy. Is God worse than you? You
could not bear to see viper suffer for
ever. Is it possible that God Will
| doom a. kind and generous boy to.
everlasting pain? Nothing can be,
more monstrously absurd and cruel.
The truth is that no human being
knows anything of what is beyond the
grave. If nothing is known, then it is
not honest for any one to pretend
that he does know. If nothing is-
known then we can only hope for the
good. If there be God, your boy, IS.
no more in his power now than he was
before his death-no more than you,
are at this moment. Why should we
fear God more after death than be
fore? Does the feeling of God toward
his children change the moment they
die? While we are alive they say God
loves us; when will He cease to love
us? True love never changes. l beg
of you to throw away all tear. Take
counsel of your own heart. If God ex-
lists, your heart is the best revelations
OF Him and your heart could never
send your boy to endless pain. After
all, no one knows. The ministers
know nothing. All the churches in the,
world know no more on this subject,
than the ants upon the hills
Creeds are good for nothing except to,
breaksthe hearts of the loving. Letnsf
haye courage. Under the seven-hued
arch OF hope let the dead sleep. 1 do
not pretend to know, but / do know
chat others do not know. I wish !
couly say someteing that would put q
star in your night of grief-a little
flower in your lonely path-and if an
unbeliever has such a wish, surely an
infinitely good beng has never made a
soul to be the food of pain through
countless years.
Sincerely yours,
r. G. INGERsOLL.--