Rushmore, Matilda. Letter to Isaac Post.

Title

Rushmore, Matilda. Letter to Isaac Post.

Creator

Rushmore, Matilda

Contributor

Post, Isaac, 1798-1872

Date

1841-07-18

Description

Handwritten letter from Matilda Rushmore to Isaac Post, July 18, 1841.

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

564

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

                                                 North Side. 7. mo. 18. 1841.
Dear uncle,
                   You have doubtless e’re this recieved [sic] the sad
intelligence of our bereavement – .. that she our best-beloved –
and our most faithful friend is no more – and it is even so! – our
precious, precious Mother has been taken from us, and our
hearts and hearths are desolate! Tomorrow morning near two
-o’clock and one tedious week will have rolled its mournful
round – since He “whose ways are higher than our ways”
was pleased to take her gentle spirit to his bosom. The [st[r]oke?] is
heavy! – and were it not for a “sustaining hope” beyond the
grave – the widowed and the motherless, parent and kindred could
feel no healing balm.
My heart has been too full to address you e’re this – yet our silent
sympathies have yearned towards you with gushing tenderness,
we long to take you by the hand, and read in your countenances
a responding feeling. I know not how to enter upon the task –
(cherished in memory, but O! how painfully) of saying how
the ties of life weve broken         with its many “silver cords”.
Suffice it to say that we had earnest hopes of dear Mothers
recovery until within nearly three weeks of her decease,
and even then – those who had not been with her thro’ her sickness
and watched her slow and sure decline, thought there might
possibly be some foundation upon which to rest a better state
of health. Four weeks ago – last 5 day, she rode out, tho’
evidently quite unable to bear the exertion, besides she went too
far, and was extremely fatigued. After that morning her symptoms
rapidly increased. In my opinion her disease did not assume

(Page 2)

any new feature or character, but her digestive powers
which had been many months relaxing, became totally inactive
so that her stomach rejected all kind of nourishment – and
a consequently morbid state extended throughout her system.
one week from the day she rode out the Dr. M Post was sent
for more by her consent than request – but he thought it too
late to administer any thing more than a little elm tea &c.
and bathing in [pearlash?]water – tho [sic] he seemed to admit the
possibility of her recovery – still thinking her liber in an[d]
extremely morbid state – the most so of any he had ever seen
at this time her fever was very high and her chilly sensations
for a few days mostly disappeared – tho [sic] they returned as her
fever seemed to diminish and even continued with some
considerable perspiration to the last: for several days when
her perspiration was entirely obstructed – she experienced a
temporary alleviation of [her] suffering from holding ice in her
hand, on her face and temples – and taking some in her stomach
^tho’^ complaining of its being very bitter. she appeared to suffer
much oppression – from the confined state of her stomach
and indeed her whole system, as also very acute pain
as her powers became more torpid – the natural operations
being entirely obstructed – so that she was soon compelled on
account of pain to relinquish the ice – and at last even cold
water. The first day following the Dr. visit – Stephen went to
NY and he returned with him again – [soon after that her
stomach] leaving 2.day morning – during the early part of that
day she was much distressed from the effect of some sweet
spirits of [nitre?] – which while it relieved her from severe distress
nauseated her stomach – and so prostrated her strength that

(Page 3)

in the afternoon we apprehended a change to be approaching
and she expressed that she felt symptoms of dissolution. – these
gradually disappeared - tho [sic] her stomach again rejected all things
but cold water.    the doctor came again in a few days and
administered a little [illegible] whey – chicken jelly &c which with
cracker water – tho [sic] very scantily partaken of, continued to be her
support until within several of the last days when her stomach
rejected every thing.
During all this time – her spirit longed to be free – – as she expressed
“I have loved all the creation and the Creator – and the world of mankind –
but after lying here so long deprived of the food things of this life – to lay
down my head in peace will be a favour”. she often expressed how she
loved us – wished us to pray – that her Heavenly Father would
take her – whom she thus addressed – “on thee O Father I cast all my care
for I have none in heaven but thee, nor in the earth beside thee –
I have long acknowledged thee, to be the chiefest among ten thousand
and to thy mercy and not to my own merit, I trust the salvation
of my soul!” – Many such assurances have we, in addition to
her spotless life – that her spirit reposes in peace – In relation
to her, death seems to be deprived of his harsh features – I cannot
think of her as bound in icy fetters – but rather as having been trans-
-lated from a scene of painful vicissitudes – to one of unfading joys
we love to dwell upon her worth – and the sweetness of her character –
may the recollection of these – sweeten our cup of life – and cast
perfume around us – long after the flower hath departed. May her
shining example – be to us a beacon light in the pathway to a
better world – that while our eyes o’erflow with tears – we may be among
those who “truly mourn,” by a life of rectitude. Her long confine-
-ment did not seem in the least to wean us from her – so constan^tly^

(Page 4)

the object of our care and attention – and at the same time so
much interested in what was passing around her – always
capable to impart instruction in relation to our household cares –
O. I feel as it were an insupportable weight in relation to our
bereaved family – never were children blessed with such a mother
and may they ever feel the force of her example –
We are in as comfortable health as could be expected. Do not
withhold the expression of your sympathies – write us soon.

[Address in center of page, running upward]

Westbury                        18¾
July 19.
                   Isaac Post
                             Rochester
                                      N.Y.

[Text normal across bottom of page]

It may be proper to add that thy letter dated 6.mo 23 – with
its contents has been safely received. – with much love
in which we all unite thy affectionate neice [sic]
                                                                   Matilda R.

Tags

Family

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Rushmore, Matilda, “Rushmore, Matilda. Letter to Isaac Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2862.

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