Sugar Grove Sept 4^th 1868

 

                        Dear Jettie

                                                I have been waiting a few days in hopes someone else would assume the sad responsibility of informing you of the our recent bereavement but as no one has had the heart and nerve to say to you "our little Terressa is gone as in a moment from our sight" I will try to tell you the circumstances of the trying ordeal through which Darwin and Mattie in particular and all of us as relatives and partial admirers of the precious little one have been called to pass. On Tuesday of last week D. and M. called with both their little girls and took dinner with us In the happiest and most exuberant spirit they spoke of the reward of their labours on the farm and the satisfactory sale of their produce &c but the climax of all their rejoicing seemed to rest on the conviction that Tressa was a model of infantile loveliness and perfection indeed we were all very lavish expressions of genuine sympathy with their appreciation of the rapid developement of her faculties after dinner they went to Aurora left the children at Drs went downtown made purchase / made purchase preparatory to fitting herself and little Tressa to go to Kankakee returned to Drs tea was just ready Mercelia put set a dipper of hot water on the table in the back kitchen designing to dispose of it at once as Mattie entered the kitchen from the dining room with Teressa passing to the sink a remark of one to the other diverted their attention and as Mattie says in less time than would seem possible and while she supposed the child was by her side she had passed by Mercelia siesed the dipper and emptied the contents in her bosom Mercelia threw a pail of water on her before Mattie understood the case Dr was in and dressed the burn immediately and as the water had not boiled and she manifested a remarkable interest in the change of her dress and all outside surroundings with an opiate to keep her quiet they rested on the hope that the burn though distressing would not prove fatal or even very serious and congratulated themselves that her face neck and hands had escaped with hardly a sign of the casualty /

 

            Darwin came for me Wednesday afternoon said she had been quiet since the dressing was concious and hoped he should be able to leave her with us and go home and return on Thursday. Mattie was alone with her when I first saw her and remarked that she had just before rolled her eyes in a manner which to her indicated a tendency to the brain she recognised me; she asked to drink often and soon became restless Dr soon came in and ordered cool applications to her head on returning after a very few minutes absence at tea I noticed a marked change she soon said I want to go to "rora" called for drink and when asked if Mama or Mother should give it her said with emphasis"My Ma" meaning her mother this I think was the last expression of perfect consciousness she soon (to me) showed symptoms of convulsion and my worst fears were more than realized before one oclock Dr was with us in a moment but all efforts were useless; your knowledg an experience will do better justice than my pen she lived till six in the morning Darwin gave vent to his feelings and could hardly control himself during the paroxisms of of distress but Mattie was calm knew what to do and how to do it as long as any thing could be done / She then gave way to grief but soon became composed and though she deeply feels her loss her heart seems filled with love and gratitude for the blessed privilege of enjoying so sweet a child though only for two short years and for the assurance that "Of such are the kingdom of heaven" they wished much that you could have been present to mingle your sympathies with the friends that gathered at the funera but it was decided that you could not get a telegram in time to come Fayette and Austin came up and made a short visit Mercelias nervous system received a far greater shock than Matties and I still fear the result on her feeble health

 

they are about sending Charlie to Rippon Wis. to school. Austins little girl is just out of danger from a three weeks prostration by dysentary and ulceration of bowels the rest of us enjoy our usual health and all the comforts necessary for this temporal life and my daily prayer is that as an entire family may each have faith in the righteousness of Christ which shall prove an anchor to our souls when heart and flesh fail and our own righteousness will be found wanting

 

Farand has not gone east yet but extraorduries excepted we expect a new cousin soon

 

Sept 9^th can only add Ottie has gone to Aurora with a load of dressed pigs turkies vegetables and other table preparation for the grand reunion of the 124 Ills to transpire tomorrow at Aurora answer soon and tell all about Dr J A Hatch

 

Your affectionate Mother

                                                M. P. Hatch

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