The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-09-23
AN 1NTIDEL's CONSOLATION.
Col. IuEersoIrs Letter to San Francisco
MOther md Her Reply.

Col. Ingersolrs Letter to a San Franciseo
Mother and Her Reply.
Repubsidlod ~ rtqiet from he hte'liCenc,r Of SEP
ERbTlL
Not long ago lady Of San Francisco
was suddenly overwhelmed by great,
crushing affection, that, coming like a
thunderbolt upon her, for 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 brief telegram
announced the dreadful tidings to his
heart.broken mother. The terrors Of the
Calvanistic creed, in which she had been
brought up, and according to which, as
she well knew, there was no hope Of
future happiness for the unconverted
young man, added greatly to her
agonixing grief over his death, un-
I'll her friends feared that her
reason, II not her life, would be de-
stroyed. A lady friend, who had SYM
pathized with and vainly sought to console
her, informed Col. Ingersoll, and begged
Of him, If possible, 10 write something
which might at least relieve in measure
the terrible apprehension as to the fate OF
her son under which she was suffering.
The following is his letter, which, as will
be Been by the subjoined grateful reply,
was in good measure effective. It was
only upon the representation that, like
Col. Ineersol's widely published remarks
at the funeral OF his brother in Washing.
ton some years ago, these words also might
Comfort other hearts which mourn" that
San Francisco reporter succeeded in OBJ
tanning copy for publication, with the
condition that the name OF the recipient
should not be mentioned:
My DEAR MADAME: Mrs. c. has told
me the sad story OF your almost infinite
sorrow. Rm not foolish enough to sup
pose that l can say or do anything to
lessen your great grief your anguish for
his loss; but maybe can ray something
to drive from your poor heart the iend OF
iear-iear tor Him. II there is God, let
us believe that He is good; and II He is
good, the good have nothing to fear. !
have been told that your son was kind
and generous; That he was filed with
charity and sympathy. Nov, We know
that in this world like begets like, kind
ness produces kindness, and all good bears
the fruit OF Joy; belief IL nothiuG-deeub
are everything; and II your son was kind,
he will naturally find kindness wherever
he may be. You would not indtct end.
less pain upon your worst enemy. Is.
God worse than you? You could not
bear TO see a viper suffer forever. Is
Il possible that God will doom kind
and generous boy TO everlasting
pain2 Nothing can be more mon.
ssrously absurd and cruel. The truth Is
that no human being knows anything Of
what is beyond the grave. II nothing Is
known, then 1t 10 not honest for any one
10 pretend that he does know. lfnothfng
q known, then We eau hope only for the
good, Iithere be 4 God your boy Is no
more In His power now than he was be.
fore his death-no more than you are at
this moment. Why should We fear God
more after death than before? Does the |
feeling Of God toward His children change
the moment they def While We are
alive they say God loves US; when will he
cease % love tis2 True love never changes,
! beg Of yoR to throw away ell fear. Take