Letter to Samuel Cox, Jr., Theological Seminary, Chelsea Square, New York, from his mother, A. M. Cox, April 12, 1847; postmarked Philadelphia [?], Pennsylvania, April 12
April 12th 1847
My dear Son,
I was very agreably surprised by the arrival of your letter as I thought it probable that you would not write until later in the week & that we should receive your letter on Monday as we used to – Miss Mary was here on Tuesday morning & told me that Mr Ogilby did not go in the 9 O’clock Line – I feared that you would just not escape the rain as we had a heavy shower about the time I supposed you would leave the Exchange and another about the time I thought you would arrive at New York – Miss Mary gave me a great deal of information about the projected church for Mr Ogilby, but I must own that it seems to me not in the least likely that it will be accomplished nor do I see the necessity for it that some do – Doubtless, if they can build a suitable church without running into debt they will deserve great praise –
We went to church & lecture on Thursday, which you recollect was a lovely day, & I enjoyed the walk very much – I took another walk with Father on Saturday afternoon – We went almost to the Navy Yard (my last visit there was almost 30 years since) & we passed Trinity church & the Swede’s church, the former I had never seen & the latter I do not recollect at all, but I think I must have seen it as I believe Dr Turner’s father used to live in the parsonage & I used to go sometimes to see Miss Turner – This walk I did not enjoy for it was principally through the suburbs which to me are almost sickening – I think I must in my next walk try the western outskirts for it seems to me they cannot be so bad as the northern & southern
– Aunt Elizabeth drank tea with us on Wednesday but I am afraid she found it so dull that she will not come again very soon. However I suppose her object was not so much her own pleasure as to enliven us a little & certainly her visit was of service to me in that respect. We saw Dorsey for a few minutes before church yesterday & heard that you were well – He looks much browner for his trip which he says he enjoyed greatly – Mr Yarnall was here for a short time on Thursday evening – He has made what I consider a very advantageous arrangement with Mr Lewis, who takes the carpets mats & blinds, Oil cloth, kitchen & garret & back chamber furniture so that he will not have a great deal more than he will want for his own rooms He has, you know, repeatedly requested me to take any thing I would like & on Thursday mentioned particularly one of the chintsy-covered sofas which I declined at first but on second thoughts accepted, as something of the kind to lounge on in summer is quite a luxury. We have put it into Aunt Frances’ room & taken the easy chair away & the room looks much larger than before
– I should like very much to know what learned persons think about the intermediate state etc – & especially whether the idea mentioned by Bp. Faber has been entertained by any others – as far as my knowledge of Scripture goes there is nothing there to sustain it except, perhaps, the latter part of the 16th chap. of St [Luke][canceled “Gospel”] but any one who has really studied it might find a great deal – The belief that our separated friends are sensible of our feelings towards them has been full of consolation to me, ever since I met with the suggestion & I do not see that it can be productive of any evil – One of the most painful things connected with the loss of those we love is the idea that we did not show our affection to them as much as we might have done & the reflection that we may have been, or have appeared unkind to them sometimes, & the supposition that they are aware of our regret for any thing of the kind is I think very soothing
– It seems strange indeed that I have written 3 pages without mentioning Helen – When she is not one who makes any unnecessary display of her feelings – Mr Yarnall begins to remove to day and has gone to assist – He says he has felt very solitary since your departure – I do not believe he would at all like keeping house, after a short experience of its inconveniences I sat down to write I wondered what I could find to tell you now that the one engrossing subject is gone – but I still feel great difficulty in realizing that I have had such a daughter – I think that all here show great sympathy for us & I believe there is much more real feeling in the world than we are in the habit of allowing – I think, however, that on the whole the custom of not talking about those who are gone is a good one [canceled “as far as”] except among the few who can enter into our feelings for them
– Miss Williamina Smith was here on Saturday – I did not see her but I was quite touched by her telling Frances, among other things, that hardly an hour passes in which she does not think of Letitia & that she had never felt sorry for her death – I was particularly struck with this because Mrs Williams was here last week & expressed a great deal of interest in you – James was here on Saturday – Sarah is at Mount Peace
– May God bless you dear child & enable us all so to mourn that we may be comforted – yr aff mother A M Cox
(written at top of first page of letter) Best love from father & Aunts –
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Notes: Letter to Samuel Cox, Jr., Theological Seminary, Chelsea Square, New York, from his mother, A. M. Cox, April 12, 1847; postmarked Philadelphia [?], Pennsylvania, April 12; from the Phillip F. Schlee Collection.
Chintz = A printed and glazed cotton fabric, usually of bright colors.
GEORGE STANLEY FABER (1778-1854) – “The distinguished religious controversialist was the son of the vicar of Calverley in Yorkshire. In 1805 he was collated by Bishop Shute Barrington to the vicarage of Stockton-on-Tees, moved to Redmarshall in 1808, and was rector of Long Newton from 1811 until 1832. He became master of Sherburn Hospital in that year and devoted much of his income to the improvement of the hospital farms and estates. Throughout his career, Faber advocated the evangelical doctrines of the necessity of conversion, justification by faith and the sole authority of scripture as the rule of faith. He died at Sherburn Hospital and is buried in the chapel there. His religious works are voluminous and run into two columns in the Dictionary of National Biography.” [Gospel of Luke, 16:19-31] – “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”