Year: 1879

NORWICH Conn, Feb. 7, 1879.


Katie NJ Cobb after her in July 1878, was at
first given all the privileges could be asked for
by prisoner. had constant attention from outside
friends, and was comfortable one could be in
prison deprived Of her liberty. She has remarkable
taste and skill with her needle and possesses good
education. she spent her time in making fancy
articles for friends and in reading books from the
Otis Library and the private libraries of friends Her
reading matter did not escape suspicious scrutiny,
and the local press announced that she reading


Tried for Her Life. while the sewing societies dis
cussed the probable religious influence of the novels
of Caroline Lee Hentz. Marian Harland and Mrs.
Southworth, which she had taken from the public
library, while at the time she reading from
a private library Words of Truth" .Tell Jusus,"
.pilgrim's Progress" Faithful Promises" Com
fortng Thoughts in Affection" Sabbath Bells and
Hymns of the Higher Life" which somehow were
overlooked by the scrutnzing eyes that guarded her
mental food for the publics edifcation The follow
ing letters written during the first two months
OF her Imprisonment


MY TIME TO CRY HAS COME.


NORWICH August 81 1873.
pleased to hear from you and thank you for being
so kind to me. ( have seen q great deal Of
sickness In the past twenty years ana twice have
for whatl Was it because was not ready to meet
my dear friends who have gone before me to the
will not question His better Judgments. v y
How many OF our friends have died? The last one
Hattie Mrs. Bishop.) Oh. no words Of mine can
ever express my love her. We had been together
SO much Why, it seemed as though we could almost
read each others thoughts. Charlie cried when he
heard of her death. He said, II never felt so badly
to lose any one outside my own family rs l do for
her." We had made SO many plans for the summer;
but "man proposes and God disposes."


y One year ago tonight, Dillie and l started
for Troy Everything looked bright and promising
to me- and was as happy US we poor mortas can be
my health was not very good but knew
from each letter that Charlie wrote that he wanted
me at home, so l shortened my stay three weeks
and pleased to get home again he
was to have me. Oh. how happy had always
been together. Our love all sunshine; no cloud
nor the fantest shadow of one had ever dimmed it's
lustre chilled its warmth. had never known
wish that had not been anticipated. There are few
that could feel we did. We had given each other
all the wealth OF love we had, and never.
in the ten years of my married life have
him for ~ and now when think must pass
the rest Of my days without him it seems more than
M to sao %
imagine my loneliness and sorrow. so sudden and
unexpected was the blow that it fell upon me with
a crushing weight and nearly deprived me Of my





Gossip, as you well know has been very busy and
added largely to my sorrow it has made my heart
grave, my home a wilderness and snatched me from
all that was left. My poor mother! Heaven bless
her in this her deep distress Earth has no consoa-





God alone sustain. He hath given. He hath taken
ana He will again restore Ny poor little children!
Oh, how my heart aches for them How miss their
childish prate. their kisses and caresses But keep
looking forward to time when shall be ut home
| again and can hold them in my arms once more.
May the God of the widow and the fatherless watch
| over and bless and keep them Is my daily


/ have always worked hard as you we'll know, but
! for the past two years have not felt that was
Obliged to do so in order Ito make two ends meet"
as they say. The future looked bright to me- and
/ surely thought that my last days would be my
best. but my dreams of the future have all
ished ana see nothing before me but work. v
1 will try and get along somehow. Where there is
| will there Is u way.


try to be cheerful. but my heart is broken. al
though it may not appear You know
how full of fun used 10 be- but that day is dead and
gone The Bible tells us there is time TO laugh and
q time to cry. Ny time to laugh has been and gone
and my time to cry has come. Your loving and true
| friend, KATIE.
! FLOWERS AND SORROWS


NORWICH, Sept 4, 1875
| MY VERY DEAR FRIEND


| You said If you could only show your love in
way that would be sweet to it would greatly bless
you. Oh! believe me, dear friend, you have done 30
in every way. Flowers have always been
my delight and have had them in my window
speak to me- of brighter and better
world than this. where there is neither sor-
row nor signing. never weary OF admirlng them,
and the thought often comes to me while admiring
their beautiful forms and colors that IL He gives
such flowers here on EARTH His footstool, how much
more beautiful will they be in the heavenly world.
His home May we walk side by side there through
His garden and together gather flowers therefrom.
Your words OF love and comfort have greatly
| blessed me. and have added many CLEAN OF light
upon my darkened pathway. have read and re-
read the Faithful Promises" and, knowing that
| your eyes have read its pages, that your hand
marked the passages. it has became doubly dear to


Yes my friend did enjoy "Bitter Sweet" and
| the Landscape Gallery" Each and every thing
that your loving heart has sent to me has been
ceived with pleasure and added to my comforts
The desolateness of my future life spreads out
before home without the dearer to
| than my own lite My Maker only knows the utter
OF my grief When look upon my mourning
garments, all the sorrow typihed by their dark hue
the gloom of the grave. the anguish of bereavement
| All como back. and In one passing moment 1--we
them all over. The scene is past, but its rcmem-
| Whatever be my after fate have known the fe.
licty OF loving i'll all its length breadth aud strength
feel AS il God will open a way or me to walk in
and I am resolved to leave the events in His hands.
Sooner later all the ways of Providence will be
justified to and made clear tue MONDAY sun.
We must wait and hope and trust and pray.
That God will bless and reward you is the wish
and the daily prayer of your loving friend.
THE CHURCH BELLS CALL.


| NORWICH, Sept y, 1873
When the church bells rang this morning
could not help wishing that could attend divine
worship; but am trying to he patient and this is
bad hea.iache ali day. Take all the comfort
! you can and do not dwell too much on my troubles
con tell them to my Father In heaven. and md COM
fort in His love aud promises. Write when you Gnd
leisure. : = May God bless and angels watch
over you is the wish Of your true and loving
KATIE


About the goth Of September. 1878. she went before
the Grand Jury at New London and came within one
ballot of being acquitted the indictment being made
| to satisfy public opinion.


| Bishop came back unanimously indicted for
both murders and was much detected; but Mrs.
cobb. hopeful ever. indted the following letter
to friend the very day Bishops hrst confession
was made probably not having II at the time Of
writing:--


''suSsHrNE AND STARLIGHT"


| NORWICH, Oct. I, 1873
| MY VERY DEAR FRIESD-Oh. how I wish could
| thank you for the little book. have ound great
many comforting thoughts therein. / think IL
| rightly named Sunshine aud Starlight"
A lady said to me few days ago, "The world will
never look the same to you again" have thought
| much ofgthese few words Will the sky not be
| blue, the grasses as green2 viii the little
/ ain AZ as (o1 wi