From M.H. Lorring to Allie, April 26, 1875

From M.H. Lorring to Allie, April 26, 1875

Lorring, M.H.

Allie

Dorchester, MA.

From M.H. Lorring to Allie

M.H. Lorring

Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service

HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington

1875-04-26

NPS, Civil War Study Group, Barb Davidson (Transcriber)

For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904).

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English

Text

Letter #249

Arcadia St., Dorchester, MA.

LETTER TRANSCRIPTION
Arcadia St., Dorchester [Mass.]
April 26th/75
Dear Mrs. Peirce
I yesterday thought I should write to you, but we all (that is Mr. and Mrs. Swan, Nellie and myself) went to Cambridge to attend the services at Mr. Everett’s funeral. It was a long ride and when we got home, I was very tired and did not feel like writing.
After the services, the relatives and friends who intended going to Forest Hills were requested to remain till those who did not go, had left the house. There were a considerable many of our old acquaintance. Mrs. Davis, Flowers, Pikeman, Archer and others who came and shook hands and spoke with me. Misses Stetson and Walker, Mrs. Y. Forster, Miss Balfour and others. I could not name all. Dr. Ellis and Mr. Hall conducted the services. Mr. Hall read the scriptures and a “Hymn” “My God I thank thee, may no thought ere deem thy chastisements severe”. Then Dr. Ellis made some remarks speaking of their connection with each other even from their childhood - of the goodness and purity of his character, its simplicity and devotedness to his duty. Mrs. Swan thought him very excellent that he did not say any too much, it seemed just what Mr. Everett was. Dr. E. [Ellis] at the close of his remarks read a favorite hymn of Mr. Everett’s beginning “Behold the western evening light! It melts in deeper gloom.” Mr. Hall followed with a few remarks of the same tenor, the beauty and purity of his life and then closed with prayer. We did not go to Forest Hill but returned home. There were not as many as I expected to see there. Mr. Grunnell was there, Lizzie Hurd and others that Nellie saw that I did not. He died Friday morning. He had a comfortable night and died very gently without suffering. A truly good man has passed from this world.
I hope to go to Charlestown next Saturday to spend Sunday. I shall probably come out Monday and may meet you in the cars. I did not calculate to stay but we are going to have some floor varnishing done which will be more convenient to have our family small. Katie is going and I expect to and Nellie will probably go somewhere.
Monday I shall expect to see you.
Give my love to Lucy.
Yours with love
M. H. Lorring

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES (Josef Rokus)

NOTE 1: The hymn “My God, I thank Thee…” was written by Andrews Norton (1786-1853). The first stanza reads as follows:
My God, I thank Thee! May no thought
E’er deem Thy chastisement severe;
But may this heart, by sorrow taught,
Calm each wild wish, each idle fear.

NOTE 2: The hymn “Behold the evening light…” was written by William B. O. Peabody (1799-1847). The first few lines read as follows:
Behold the western evening light;
It melts in deepening gloom,
So calmly Christians sink away
Descending to the tomb.

Letter/Paper