Monmouth, July 23d,
1832.
By the last mail I received the truly afflicting
intelligence of the death of our poor old father. Your last letter had prepared
me, and I expected to hear of it by every mail. We should not grieve. He had
long since been deprived of every enjoyment which a participation in the
affairs of this world can give. Death to him must have been a relief from the
burden of existence. His very useful career had long since terminated. When we
have performed the part which Providence has assigned us, and when the faculty
of enjoying even the few pleasures of old age has ceased, it can not be
considered a misfortune to die. I have felt a melancholy gratification in
learning from Dr. Wackerhagen's letter that the last hours of our venerable
father were free from pain. There will be many in another world to bear witness
to the good he has done in this. The time of each of us is to come, but while
we are here let us act well our part.
SOURCES: John F. H. Claiborne, Life and
Correspondence of John A. Quitman, Volume 1, p. 131-2
No comments:
Post a Comment