Gloucester,

                                                                                    Mass.               April 20^th 1862

 

Friend George;

                        I see in the paper the death of John L Martin, it must be your brother. let me mourn with you for he was my friend. its hard for us to part from friends we love but yet gods ways are just and he will all for the best We know very well that the true character of man does not depend on the length of his days but on the measure of his good qualities; and when that measure is complete, the almighty, whose eye is always upon him, sees him fitly prepared for a more exalted state, and graciously admits him into it./

 

one by one we see our dear ones passing away from us and what is left to us but grief and tears and sighs and the thousand forms which recollection conjures as with clear and almost painful distinctness.

 

Grief and tears and sighs and memory all are unavailing but we can rais to him a monument in our lifes lifes which time shall never destroy, and which shall speek lovingly of him in Eternity. Yes if we dedicate to his dear memory some high and holly purposes, some resolutions of affection and kindness and gentleness, prayers for a life so pure that we shall meet him once more, then will this heavy cloud be illumed with a light too bea/ tiful for [?] of earth but beaming with anticipated joys of heaven. And more than all, I pray God to grant that these lessons [?] us with a warming love as we stand apon the threshold of life, may be ever as fresh as now, that not one throb of sorrow or grief will be less keen for our selfs and that we may be able to show a heart unstained white as a little childs. my poor friend John. be sure I will help morn the loss for Oh I feell very sad, give my love to your father and mother they should not morn for him soon they will both meet him pleas George give me the perticulars is he to be brought home and when tell me all about it /

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