.NTM3.OTEx

taken by surprise, when the blow came it was a heavy one, was so overcome as to completely unfit me for duty. At first I could hardly realise, or believe myself that our Dearly beloved Sister was no more. I had a letter commenced to you the day previous to my receiving the sad intelegence, and as I had but a few minutes to answer it in, previous to the return mail starting, I could add but a few lines, or could I have done more had the time been given me, for I was to much overcome with grief. To think of her suffering, death and burial, and I far away, denied the priveledge of seeing her in her last hours, ignorant of all that was transpiring among the loved ones at home