Letter from Asbjørn to Anders ROE (29 Dec 1877)

Letter. Asbjørn to Anders ROE (29 Dec 1877). Images courtesy of Verla Williams.

Dear Son Anders,

God's grace and peace!

I have received postcard from you I think at least 2 I have also sent you at least 1 concerning your mother's sickness but now I can then say that the Lord has brought an end to this suffering. She is dead. She died the night in between 19th and 20th December. The last 7 days she lived, she lay as if in a trance not the least sound could she give from herself, not the least movement with her body, the only lifesign was that she drew breath and pulse beat. I sent request to Lars Raae and he came and was here the last 3 days. The night she died it fell after (during?) the turn of me and Lars to sit up. In between 1 and 2 a.m. we noticed that her breath became more heavy and long. I opened up the Bible and happened on the 116 David's psalm, read it out loud fell on knees for last time by her bed and prayed a short prayer and during this she expired so that when I stood up after the prayer, was breath and pulse ceased.

Although I can now not other than thank God for he brought an end to this misery, so was it a comfort in the house so long the life endured, so feel uncomfortable by the separation painful also on the other side.

I can now not other than hope and trust that she went redeemed if then understood she not at the last could give any account of her faith, so she had during her sickness before living admission and perception of the grace.

There are otherwise 4 death in all happened here. Old Lasse Ehrie at end of November, found dead by the road, like that was his body examined by the Dr. and he found to be that his heart was betrayed. The 2nd a 74 year old man from _____ iron works an old believer and he kept sense and power of speech now to the last and therefore could confess his faith so that he died in full assurance about his grace’s standing which took place 10 days before your mother's death and 3 days after death of TB a young woman a daughter of Jacob Aamodt and married to _____ John for 2 or 3 years after delivering a child. John is now a widower and working at Nelson’s mill. Henrik Lysnes youngest son Henry has also laid near death but they said yesterday that he was improving.

Your mother's funeral took place 3rd Christmas Day with an enormous funeral procession of neighbors, relatives and our congregation which consists of 8 families. The rest are all the same _____ and so in the middle that one can _____.

Finally loving greetings to family from us all here, wishing that we all must bear in mind our own death’s certainty that it should not become a terror for us.

Amherst 29th December 1877
Asbjørn H. Raae

P.S. Ole came also home some days before my wife's death but too late to speak with her. Then further I send my portrait _____ could soon be _____ so that you could have my picture.