Correspondence (incoming): Ro - Ry, 1887-1902

Albany New York

My dear Mrs Stanford

Although I am in no mood for letter writing, and fear I shall fail in making this in any way interesting, yet I canot refrain from writing to thank you for the beautiful words of condolence you sent to poor suffering Auntie Dot on that first sad day of her bereavement. They were such a comfort and solace, when she wanted us to read and

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What is she going to do? I come to you in sheer desperation, dear Mrs Stanford, not meaning to burden or distress you in any way, only I must free my mind and to whom is it more natural to come than to Auntie Dot's dearest and best beloved friend! I write unbeknown to both her and my Mother. Mamma wrote to you a few days ago, but I know nothing of what she said, and Auntie Dot hopes to be able to write soon, but I want to tell you myself what a deplorable state we are in. Auntie Dot is left alone, and most miserable in health. Mamma and I are willing to do and are doing all we can for her, and we sympathize with her most deeply, but we can not succeed in

preventing her from worrying as to her future. She would never be happy out of her own home. We have offered her a home with us and yet she can not stay in her house alone, and she is so very nervous, and so used to her own quiet way of living. She says she never can have anybody live wtih her, yet she knows something must be done, as Mamma and I cannot stay with her forever. So you see it is an uncommonly pitiable case. She has not been well all summer and now this shock is telling sadly on her nervous system. If we could only get her to go away somewhere, but no, she says she will not go anywhere, not even out to drive, as she will feel so

much more lonely when she comes home again. So there seems to be nothing to do but to wait, and trust in God, who will guide us in the right way, if we only have patience. I hope I do not weary you, dear Mrs Stanford. I only wanted to tell you how matters stood, thinking that you might perhaps write some word of cheer to poor Auntie Dot, such as if you thought of coming on this Autumn you would try and come to see her, any pleasurable prospect like that would do so much towards reviving her drooping spirits. I am very sure; and advice from you regarding her future course would be so gratefully

received and I know Auntie Dot would do all in her power to follow it. She is worrying now too over Mamma, who is much run down, and has a troublesome cough, she feels that she ought not to take her away from her home any longer, and yet dreads so to have us go and we have not the heart to leave her while she is so feeble. But oh, it is a doleful house! Hearing Auntie Dot's continual mourning and repining because she did not appreciate dear Uncle Jimmie, and accusing the Doctor of deception because he did not tell her Uncle Jimmie was so near the end of his journey here, and then she insisted upon seeing the numerous condoling visitors who came,

until from sheer exhaustion, she had to give up and now I have that trying ordeal to go through, and she will not have a ray of light in the house, so that everything to me, has a glowing aspect yet I must not complain as it is God's Will. But it is so hard to be brave and to appear cheerful under such depressing influences, yet I was greatly rewarded this morning when I hear Auntie Dot say, I was '"such a comfort to her she would not know what to do without me". I am sure I would do any thing in the world to lighten her burdens, but I feel utterly helpless when I look at her, the picture of despair, so lonely and so feeble!