Part 25 (2/2)

Martha was an hour and a half in Winchester, walking about with the three boys and at the pastry-cook's She thought Edward grown, and speaks with the sae a little likeness to his uncle Henry

[October 13]

I have received your letter, and with most melancholy anxiety was it expected, for the sad news reached us last night, but without any particulars It caun at Steventon and finished in Winchester

We have felt--we do feel--for you all, as you will not need to be told: for you, for fanny, for Henry, for Lady Bridges, and for dearest Edward, whose loss and whose sufferings see God be praised that you can say what you do of hiious radually lead him to comfort

My dear, dear fanny, I am so thankful that she has you with her! You will be everything to her; you will give her all the consolation that huhty sustain you all, and keep you, my dearest Cassandra, well; but for the present I dare say you are equal to everything

You will know that the poor boys are at Steventon

Perhaps it is best for them, as they will have more means of exercise and amusement there than they could have with us, but I own ement I should have loved to have them with me at such a time I shall write to Edward by this post

With what true sys are shared by Martha you need not be told; she is the friend and sister under every circuyric on the departed, but it is sweet to think of her great worth, of her solid principles, of her true devotion, her excellence in every relation of life It is also consolatory to reflect on the shortness of the sufferings which led her from this world to a better

Farewell for the present, my dearest sister Tell Edward that we feel for hiht [October 15, 1808]

Your accounts make us as comfortable as we can expect to be at such a time Edward's loss is terrible, and must be felt as such, and these are too early days indeed to think of hter, but soon we may hope that our dear fanny's sense of duty to that beloved father will rouse her to exertion For his sake, and as the most acceptable proof of love to the spirit of her departed ned

Does she feel you to be a co but solitude?

Your account of Lizzy is very interesting Poor child! One , and yet one's heart aches for a dejected ht years old

We are anxious to be assured that Edill not attend the funeral, but when it comes to the point I think he lad you can say what you do of Mrs Knight and of Goodnestone in general; it is a great relief to me to know that the shock did not make any of them ill But what a task was yours to announce it! _Now_ I hope you are not overpowered with letter-writing, as Henry[180] and John can ease you of many of your correspondents

Upon your letter to Dr Goddard's[181] being forwarded to therandsons sent to her

We decided on their re where they were, which I hope my brother will approve of I a that in such a decision we sacrificed inclination to e thought best

I shall write by the coach to-morrow to Mrs J

A, and to Edward, about theirdirections to them on that subject from yourselves I shall certainlyour nephew on the most serious of all concerns, as I naturally did in my letter to him before The poor boys are, perhaps, more comfortable at Steventon than they could be here, but you will understand _s_ with respect to it

To-morroill be a dreadful day for you all Mr

Whitfield's[182] will be a severe duty Glad shall I be to hear that it is over