The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-10
LETTER TO 4
 MOTHER.
lExchange.1

was SuQQenlY OVefWneimed Dy great, crushing affliction, that, coming like a thunderbolt upon her, for a time threat ened her life. Her son, and only child, had gone on short business journey, ex- pecting soon to return. Sudden and fatal illness overlook him, and a brief telegram announced the dreadful tidIngs to his he2rt-broken mother. The terrors of the Calvinistic creed, in which she h ad
 been brought up, and according to which, as she we'll knew, there was no hope of future happiness for the unconverted young man, added greatly 10 her agon- lzing grief over his death, until her friends feared that her reason, if not her life,
 would be destroyed. A lady friend, who
 had sympathized deeply with and vainly sought to console her, informed Colonel
 lngersoll, and begged him, if possible, to write something which might at least re- lieve in measure the terrible apprehen- sion to the fate of her son under which she was suffering The following is his letter, which, as will be seen by the sub- joined grateful reply, was in a good measure effective. It vas only upon the representation that, like Colonel lpger- soils widely published remarks at the funeral of his brother in Washington some years ago, these words also might comfort other hearts which mourn," that San Francisco reporter succeeded Tn obtaining copy for publication, with the condition that the name of the re- cipient should not be mentioned:
 My DEAR MADAM: Mrs (. has told me the sad story of your almost infinite | pose that can say or do anything to lessen your great grief, your anguish for his loss; but maybe can say something to drive from your poor heart the iend of fear-fear for him. If there is a God let us believe that He is good ; aad if He is good, the good have nothing to fear. have been told that your son was kind and generous; that he was filled with charity and sympathy. Now, we know that in this world like begets like, kind ness produces kindness, and all good bears the fruit of joy belief IS nothing dee1s aie everything; and if your son was kind he will naturally find kindness wherever he may be. You would not in- fllct endless pain upon your worst enemy. Is God worse than you2 You could not bear to see viper suffer forever. Is it possible that God will doom kind and generous boy to everlasting pain |? Noth- ing can be more nqonstrously nq 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 hope only for the good. If there be God your hoy is no more in Ills power now than he was before his death--no more than you are at this mo- ment. Why should we fear God more after death than before? Does the feel ing of God towards his children change the moment they die2 While we are alive they say God loves us when will He cease to love us2 True love never changes. beg of you to throw away all fear. Take counsel of your own heart. If God exists your heart is the best revela- ton 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 inc world know no more on this subject than the ants on the anthills. Creeds are good for nothing, except to break the hearts of the loving. Let us have courage. Under the seven-hued arch of hope let the dead sleep. do not pretend to know, but do know that others do not know. Listen to your heart, believe what it says, and wait with patience and without tear for what the future has for all. If we can get no comfort from what people know. let Us avoid being driven to despair by what they do not know. wish could say something that would put a star in your night of grief-a little flower in your lonely path-and if an unbeliever has such wish, surely an infinitely good being never made soul to be the food of pain through countless years.
 Sincerely yours, K. c. INGERSOLL
 DEAR COLONEL lNGERSOLL found your letter inclosed with one trom-at my door on my way to this hotel to see friend. broke the seal here, and, through blinding tears letting it fall from my hands between each sentence to sob my heart out-read it. The first peace have known, real peace, since the terrible blow, has come to me now. While will not doubt the existence of a God, l feel that can rest my grief stricken heart on His goodness and | mercy; and you have helped me to do this. Why, you have helped me to be- heve in an all-merciful and loving Gre ator, who has gathered q will try to believe) my poor ltttle boy-my kind, kind, large hearted child into His tender and shel- tetins arms. There IS a genuine ring in your words that lifts me up. Your belief, so clear and logical, so filled with com mon sense, corresponds, so far hack as l can remember, with my own matter of Tact ideas; and was the child of good | and praying parents, and my great, won- dering eyes questioning silently when they talked to me, my strange ways, while l tried to be good, caused them often great anxiety and many a pang-