The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-12-31
His Sisters Letter

After perusing the following letter addressed to
local citizen Bishop Seaman requested its pub
ication in the interest of religion 1t is (the bisI-
OPP says) beautiful development of maternal
love and filia affection which go to make the per-
feet Christian:
Ny Dear Absent Brother Miles from home
and dear ones, you waiting TO hear the par
ticulars of our dear mothers death How can
begin? Would that | could forget the scene of
the past week-a sad, yet so beautiful
Sad because dear old mother whose life was
spent in love and sacrifice for her family. was
taken from our midst, where she will be missed as
only helpless child would be, for she was con
stantly on our minds Beautiful, because our
Blessed Mother called her on that loveiest of all
feast days-the Immaculate Conception. Would
that | were a gifted writer to describe our moth
er's life and death. Patient, like our Immmacu-
late Mother she shared the SORROWS of seeing her
children-men-take from her one by one, while
She feeble and helpless, was left to suffer the heavy
cross. Not a year ago dear James was called to
his reward. while our dear mother lay helpless on
her sck-bed, begging God if it be his holy will to
take her first, and let the bitter cup pass As [
wrote you before, mother had dread of Pur-
gatory. The last few days OF her life were surely
the sufferings of Purgatory here on earth We
feel confident that God gave her her crosses and
sufferings here and took her that beautiful day
to her eternal reward
After drOpsy set III mother suffered very much
from sufocation. She found no rest. She prayed
constantly and fervently until the last as she
perfectly conscious to the end. Several times
when we were so pleased to think she had fallen
asleep, and afraid to stir for fear of disturbing
her, to our surprise We would see her lips move
and hear the Hail Mary repeated in plain words.
Her rosary is worn smooth so much had she used
it. Three days before she died | said: Mother.
if YOU die before | do which rosary shall [ place
how'd IfDl1 4l,,,o u
youw She replied: "Place on my hand the one
that P sent me-" Sc, my dear brother. be COM
fOrted. She thinking Of you and carried to
her grave the little token you sent her. blessed by
dear Father O.. The day she was dying your let
ter came This / read to her and also showed her
the pretty card SO kindly sent by Father X. She
said. "God bless Father X and all"
Thank God we spared to give mother the
best of care while she lived, and her funeral was
one of the incest that ever took place i'll our
church. Over 1000 people visited home to
view the remains. Dear P-,mother looked lovely
The pretties old lady ever seen in DEATH so everyone
said The Children of Mary came in body
Sunday. 1t was most edifying to see them they
knelt in prayer. If mother could have seen them
at her side, how happy she would have been. /
am sure she will intercede for them i'll her heaven
ly home, where she enjoy the real company of
Mary.
Now, my dear brother, bear up; and since your
dear mother is gone to her reward do not forget
her. feel that she does not need prayers but if
she does not there are others for whom prayer will
avail. know that mother is at rest; away from the
cares and trials of this wicked and selfish world.
The misfortmes that have oyertaken you and [
Through no fault of ours) has caused her many
an hour of sorrow. Let try and live perfect
life through remembrance of our mother Let her
good example of faith and love burn in hearts.
Let us continue in our correspondence and per-
petuate mothers affection for her children
Out of mothers seven sons, only one followed
her to the grave. Father W called at the house
and over mothers remains, he said: ''Your mother
has left monuments behind in the faith of her
children and grandchildren" He gave us great
consolation, indeed. AT the grave, Very Rev. N
b was present to consign the body to Mother
Earth. The first carriage after the pa-bearers, I
was occupied by four Sisters of St. Joseph, of
whom was our venerable cousin. Mother Mary |
Philip AS [ said before if mother rolled in wealth
no more respect could have been shown.
We. arc very lonely and now the Christmas holt
lays, so near at hand make the heart grow sadder,
although we feel that dear mother and James are
ogether this Christmas, Write as soon as you
,an, for will be anxious and always happy to hear
rom you For mothers sake, write often for there
ire only few of us left