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Cottage Grove Monday Sept 22 - 51 My Dear Children On the 13th inst I wrote to you the unwelcome news of the death of your dear mother, I then told you that I would write the next week, then then next week is past, and such a week! were it not for Mehitable I should sink under my affliction she dear girl seems to be my only consolation, her management and care is so much like her dear mother, so calm and even cheerfull (at times) under her affliction, her affectionate attention to my wants, her mild and soothing language makes her almost the idol of my heart Your mother died on Saturday the 13.th 6 1/2 oclock A.M. her funeral took place Sunday following 3 oclock P.M. Mr Hall (Congregationalist) who preaches here was absent, we sent to St. Paul for Rev. Mr Niell a Presbyterian, he attended, preached a sermon, Text Phillippians 1st Chap. latter clause of the 21st verse "To die is gain," He first showed what the Christian gained by death, he then made the application to the deceased, this first of his sermon was a just tribute to her character while living and to her memory, now gone, his address to the mourners was as consoling as his sermon the concourse of people was very large considering the scatered population of the country, many came ten or more miles to pay their last tribute of respect to a stranger it showed great respect and sympathy for the family. it was said to be the largest gathering ever seen at a Protestant funeral in the Teritory -- I felt it to be my duty to my family and to the memory of one so justly and highly believ'd that the last sad services which could be performed for her should be of such a character as to reflect our love and veneration for her while living and for her memory when dead, and I hope my dear children will not accuse me of extravagance, For the East it would be so considered, but you must recollect that the East and West are two places and that the existence of the two places as wide apart as are their Longitudes