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Winsted Sept 4. 1850 To Dea Alvan Simonds Dear Brother
Your kind letter came duly & I was glad to hear of your welfare & to receive the assurance of your sympathies— Our dear mother left us at 7oC on Sabbath morning & her funeral took place yesterday at 2 PM—Her sufferings no one can describe who did not witness there—but her patience held out wonderfully & her end was very peaceful—The last 12 hours of her life were comparatively free from suffering—and she died at last like one falling asleep—A great comfort to us & what we hardly could have expected—All has evidently been ordered by the grace of God—and although we have buried a very kind mother, whom a large family loved very tenderly. yet I trust the lessons of her life & death will not be lost. All the children ^& family circle^ were present at the funeral, except my own wife—She was in Greenwich & the death occurring on Sabbath morning, when no trains are running, it was impossible to send for her in time— I shall leave ^now^ as soon as I can—Some matters incident to such an occasion ditain me here to day—Tomorrow I go to Greenwich & prepare my family to go to Boston immediately— My plan is to be there Thursday evening—I feel quite worn with watching—(as Mother could have scarce any one about her but
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her children—& to the eldest of us she of course looked most earnestly for comfort & relief) & I feel little able to commence again the arduous duties before me—but will endeavour to do what ^I can.^—I know the indulgence of my dear people & value their sympathies—Unless something occurs which I do not now foresee, I shall be with you at the lecture Friday evening, & of course on the following sabbath. If however I am stopped you must consider it in the Providence of God—I shall come, or write, on Thursday if able to do either, My kind regards to your family & may the best of Heavens blessings rest upon you all
Your affectionate friend & brother in the Gospel J. W. Alvord
P.S. The post mortem examination of our Mothers remains showed the disease to have been enlargement of some portions of the heart, with dropsy of the chest
P. S 2d Since writing a bad break in the railroad below is reported—the effect of the dreadful storm last night, & I may be so hindered as not to be able to reach you as above—The break is in the Naugatuck Road—
Y J. W. A.