Edwin Booth to Jervis McEntee

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Title

Edwin Booth to Jervis McEntee

Description

Edwin Booth comforts Jervis McEntee over the death of his wife.

Creator

Booth, Edwin

Publisher

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Date

1878-10-17

Format

pdf

Language

en

Identifier

300398
T1878.10.17-MISC

Transcription

St. George Hotel

Phila : Octr 17th 1878

[illegible monogram, BC ?]

My dear, dear Jervy -

Since the receipt of your last letter I have vainly tried to write to you - a dreadful presentiment held pofsefsion of me and daily I deferred saying what my heart yearned to speak. Yesterday I resolved that tomorrow should not pafs without a word of encouragement for you: alas! I did not dream that my fears were so near their terrible realization.


My dear friend, what can I say or do for you? The best of words afford but sorry consolation to a heart bereft of all that made its life of value. How uselefs then, how like a mockery must my feeble efforts seem when you most need the wisest counsel and that strength which only God can give!

You know my heart, Jervy; you know that it contains more than my lips can utter, and that it shall, 'till its last throb, retain sacred memories of that beauti


ful spirit that hallowed the artist's home and strengthened the husband's sometimes failing heart. Dear Jervy, let such memories still support you; let your soul, after its shock subsides, rise refreshed by the blefsed knowledge that her absence is but seeming -- that she is and will ever be more truly with your real self than when she wore the "vesture of decay". God comfort and strengthen you, my dear Jervy! and He will surely do so if you but bear in mind that 'tis not


only for those here who love and suffer with you, but for her, who -- elsewhere, but very near -- is hoping and praying anxiously for her dear husband, that you must be strong.

God blefs you all! is the earnest prayer of our hearts. Mary & Edwina write with me in the tenderest sympathy for you and your dear ones. Mrs. Vaux's note did not reach us until this morning.

Over more -- God blefs you!

Edwin

Status

Complete

Percent Completed

100

Weight

20

Original Format

paper and ink
4 p
20 x 13 cm

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