Otego Oct. 17th /88 

​

Dear Brother

Perhaps brother George has written you of the death of our sister Tempe, she died the 19th of Sept. I should have written before but have had so much to do I have delayed from time to time until four lonely weeks have passed away.

She gave up work about the middle of June (I don’t know but she wrote to you after giving up work as she wrote several letters) had been complaining several weeks before of her stomach thought she had strained it weaving, she went to the Doct he gave her some medicine which seemed to help her in some respects but she could not eat much but milk, growing weaker gradually, but kept around till Tuesday before she died. She sat up but little that day and vomited up every thing she took into her stomach (she vomited more or less before this) I had thought for a good while that she had something about her that she would never get over. From the Doct questions and appearance I was somewhat prepared for what he told me was the trouble, cancer in the stomach, but had no thoughts of her going so soon, neither had the Doct. I supposed by what I had known of this disease she would have many weeks of suffering. She kept vomiting till Thursday when she could keep down her medicine and a little milk.

Thursday about 5 o’clock she rose up quick set her feet on the floor and called to me to rub her right foot as the blood had stopped circulating. There were several in. We rubbed her foot putting it in warm water etc., we called the Doct he told us to put on mustard poultice and keep it warm was all we could do. In the morning her leg was purple from her ankle to her knee paining her terribly by spells and was very sensitive, could not bear to have it touched. I asked the Doct if it was mortification his reply was, a sort of Ganggreen. We had to give her opiates to relieve the pain but her mind was clear. Friday morning I told her I was afraid she would not stay with us long she said all right but she would have liked to have seen her sisters and George once more (she had talked all summer that if she got well enough she was going to Scranton and from there west to make a long visit and get rested) I told her she could see those who had “gone before” she said yes, she would see pa and ma and Jesus and Eva (Ada’s daughter who died a few years ago) and mentioned a number of other friends who have passed away. There were a good many of our neighbors and friends came in during Friday and Saturday, she wished to see them all and shake hands with them and tell them how kind and good everybody was to her and how good the Lord was. Lucius was here Friday she wanted him to come over Saturday and bring Minerva and the children. Saturday morning she kept asking the time and rubbing her hands said she was afraid her hands would get stiff before they came so she could not shake hands with them.

Saturday night she suffered a good deal but bore it patiently. At one time she repeated the verse 

My soul be on thy guard

Ten Thousand foes arise

While hosts of sin are pressing hard

To draw thee from the skies

Soon after she said I’m crossing “the river” I asked if she was alone. Mr. Christ was with her. Shortly after Minerva came to the bed, she said I’m almost there Minerva, soon after this about one o’clock we thought she had breathed her last, but soon she commenced breathing again but took no notice of any thing thus she remained until half past twelve Sunday apparently suffering very much some of the time, but her sufferings are ended, she is now with that saviour in whom she trusted “whose blood cleanseth from all unrighteousness”. I would not wish her back in this world of evil and pain and sadness, she is the first of our band of brothers and sisters who has gone “home”. We know not who will be the next the Lord grant whichever one it may be we may be as ready to go as Tempe was. 

But I am left alone and O how lonely I am. Sometimes it seems that I must go somewhere but I think it best to remain here till spring at least perhaps I can tell better then what I want to do.

Lucius’ health is poor but still he works most of the time. George was up to the funeral but could stay but a day or two. He is not very well, is troubled with the siatica and is quite lame at times. He said he had written to you twice but had received no answer.

We have had quite a dry summer but crops are pretty good, fruit enough for home consumption but not so abundant as last year.

Your remember Ransleer Day. He died ten days after Tempe did.

We have had a very pleasant fall. Last night it freeze ice. To night it is raining. We have had a few flurries of snow but not enough to make the ground white.

Now you have a railroad could you not sell your place to advantage and come and live nearer us? We are all getting old and it seems too bad to be so scattered.

I have written a long letter - will you not write soon?

From your sister E.T. Chase

 

P.S. The Doct said the cause of sisters death was acute ganggreen primary cause cancer in the stomach. No doubt the ganggreen shortened her sufferings many weeks.

I don’t know as you can read half that I have written for I am writing by lamp light and my hand is very unsteady.

E.T.C.