Condolence letters re: death of Leland Stanford: Ca includes M.C. [Cading], Louise Marriner Campbell, J.D. Carr, Wm. B. Carr, M.C.W. Carter, Charlotte Castle, and Clara L. Catherwood

[Left page]

He saw the same eyes shining on hi[m] as in days of yor[e]. He felt the dear arms twining fondly round him as before, and together at the "Beautiful Gate," they are waiting & watching for you. In days gone by, it was, Beloved, when we pass away from this familiar spot. I wonder who will come & stay in the deserted home. Whose name will be on yonder door Whose pictures deck the wall. Whose feet press roughly on the floor Where your dear footsteps fall? And when the years to centuries swing 'Till all we love are dead, Will any echo backward bring The words that we have said? For, oh, this home, it is so sweet, Each corner is so dear, Can Heaven, without it, be complete?

[Right page]

I would that Heaven were here, I almost think that from the skies, If I this home can see, I shall watch those with envious eyes Who live here after me. "Hush! hush! we shall not care," you say; Dear heart, it may be true; We shall not then, but, oh, to-day My life is here with you.

Listen, now, Would I come back, my dear one, And leave my glorious home? Although I love you dearly, From Heaven I would not roam.

Our home is very lonely & empty; our father's death in '79 shattered our mother's health & she continu ed an invalid until her death Jan. 1. 1891, she left 6 children, 3 sons & 3 daugh ters, all past middle age.

It almost broke our hearts when we were compelled to place her in a retreat. Just prior to school reopening last September, we put her in the Long Island Home at Amityville, Long Island whe[re] she has been ever since. We wanted to have her home this vacation & take care ofor her, but the physician assures us we could not do it.

Now Mrs. Stanford, under such heavy afflictions, isn't it almost impossible, at times, to say, "it is all for the best, oh, my Father",

In connection with your husband's death, you have

much to comfort you, he was gra[n]d, he was noble, [re]spect ed & honored on the other side of the water as well as throughout the United States. He will never be forgotten by the present generation, for his good deeds will long survive him. For future generations he has left a lasting memorial

Yours sympathizingly Belle Castell

[right side] Santa Cruz

June 21st / 93

Oh what can I say to you my dear dear friend. What words can express the heart-felt sympathy I feel for you in this your hour of trial. God knows how my whole heart goes out to you. I well know what you are suffering

[left side]

for am I not passing through the same misery as my Friend. God has sorely tried us. He has taken from us the Husbands of our love, the companions and protectors of our existance. We had passed so many many happy years together that perhaps it is not right to repent but as how I mourn my

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lost happiness for you dear Friend like myself, have been blessed by having a most loving and devoted Husban[d] and you have the great consolatio[n] in knowing your dear ones' memory will be revered and his name be blessed for the Endless Good he has done and was doing to the last day of his life, for no matter where I chance to be both you and your Angel Husband are spoken of with affection and blessings and he has left a name that will last long long after we shall have passed away and the one great consolation we have is the knowledge that it will not be so very long before we shall be reunited with our loved ones never never to be separated again. And now dearest Friend with my sincere and loving sympat[hy]

Believe me - very truly yours Mrs Charlotte Castle