The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-04-05
On Grandma Johnson's Death
Saybrook. Ohio. M arch q, 1900

oayDfOOk, ONO, M afcn Il, IJUO.
Mr.. and Mrs Pease and family.
DEAR FRIENDS: We received the sad
notifying us of the death of my
dear mother, yesterday morning. We
were somewhat surprised, as it had only
been such short time since we had
received a good newsy letter from her.
We feared she might not be with you
long as she complained of being so weak
every time she wrote. l had written
her all the news in my last and was 60
ing to write her again yesterday, when
we received the telegram of her death.
We were always glad to get her good
newsy letters for she was a good COM
poser and always spoke about all the
friends, which made her letters inter
esting. Now we will miss her so much
as we have others who have gone from
our midst. And how you will all miss
her, as she has been one of your family
so long, but you, mother, as she called
you, will miss her most Of all as she was
right there with you all the time. We
would all love to be with you today to
see her poor old body laid away. We
are assured that you have all done
everything in your power to make her
last days pleasant, as she has written
me so many times how good and kind
you were to her, and of course, each
| year as she grew older she became more
childish and perhaps worried you some
times, but from what | saw while there
think everything was pleasant and
agreeable. She seemed SO meek and
quiet like she was satisfied with her lot
and was happy to think she was so we'll
cared for in her old age.
know she loved all your children as
she has been with or near you ever since
they were babies and of course they
seemed very dear to her. We girls
loved her as a mother, for she came into
our family when we were so young we
scarcely realized mothers love other
than hers. had been away from her
to long | had begun to get somewhat
weaned from her till Rob and | were
back last winter, and it seemed SO hard
for me to leave her again. could see
the dear old soul standing out by the
gate in the cold watching us as far as
she could see us. | did not say any
thing to her about coming home with
US for knew she was not able at her
age to take such a trip, although we
would gladly have brought her and kept
her awhile if she had not been so feeble
and the weather SO cold. 1t was tire
some trip for me. We have always
wanted her to come and make us a good
long visit, but it seems it was not so
ordered that she should come. Now
that the Lord has spared her to a ripe
old age feel sure that she was prepar-
ed to answer his summons as she has
written me many times that she was
ready to go and was only waiting his
call. She would always wind up by
saying the folks We're all so good to her
and treated her as mother. She felt
that her usefulness on earth was about
ended when her strength gave way and
she didn't want to be burden to any
one if it was the Lords will to take her
home. We received the message at 10
a. m. and had hardly recovered from
the shock when in the e, ening Robert
came in and brought me the card
she had written the day before, writing
with steady nerve and telling us she
was feeling better but very W ak. 1t
went all over me like a shock, after
hearing she was dead. We iu lge her
death must have been very sudden and
what blessing that it was SO she did
not have to suffer any.
presume her poor old body has been
| consigned TO Cne earth ere this, but
had never heard where she wished to
be buried whether at the Grove on our
family lot or by father Johnson. | am
very sorry could not be with you to-
day, but my health has not been the
best for the last month, as | have been
afflicted with rheuma tism. | get SO
stiff in my joints and back some days |
can hardly get around to do the work
Even had been able to 80 the winter
weather and drifting SHOWS have made
the trains SO uncertain it would have
been difficult to reach there on time.
My husband is complaining now with
cold, the first he had all winter, and at
his age he has to take the best of care