Letter from Varnum to Martha

Letter from Varnum to Martha

Death; Burial; Grief; Medical care; Sabbath; Church

Varnum writes to daughter Martha about the death of her brother Francis, and how Varnum sat with him the night before he passed, holding his hand and reading scripture. Varnum discusses how the family worked hard to take care of Frank and then mentions how he has been called to assist at a church in Lafayette. He gives updates on the other nearby sects and wishes Martha well.

Noyes, Varnum

The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #5

Unpublished

1876-01-17

Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant

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eng (English)

Text

noyes_c_cor_536

Seville Jan 17, 1876
My Dear Daughter Martha
I believe I am in-
debted to you for a letter received about
a month ago. By the last package which
was sent about two weeks ago you have
probably learned that your brother Fran
cis was called away on the 22nd of
Dec. I suppose from previous letters
you was in some measure prepared
for the mournful intelligence. Although
he had been wasting away for a long
time yet his death came upon us sudden
ly at last. I was looking for it more than
the rest of the family. I retired several
nights before he passed away with some
expectation of being called up before morn
ing to see him expire. The last night he
lived he was rather restless and complain
ed of more pain than usual. The last
day I sat by his bed most of the day

holding his hand in mine. He looked at
me almost incessantly and seemed un-
willing that I should leave him. I could
not converse much with him on account of
my deafness. I quoted to him that blessed
passage of scripture found in Rev. 21. 4. &
remarked that all the sufferings of the
people of God were experienced in this
world. I do not know whether he was aware
that his end was so near, or whether we
did right in not informing him. The fam
ily had apprehensions that any agitation
of his mind might hasten the end. He
seemed throughout his sickness to put
his trust wholy in the Saviour. He made
a remark to me once something like that
his past life had a bad aspect. I told him
we did not depend on our own works
but on Christ to save us. I feel a good de
gree of assurance that it is well with
him. His mother and sister took the

very best care of him and we endeavor
ed to supply his every want. I have never
had as implicit confidence in his medical
treatment as some of the rest, but I believe
he was entirely satisfied. The family got
a good deal run down by taking care of
him by day and by night but they are
getting rested and recusited. His body was
interned on the north side of the grave
of his beloved wife. I am now having
one of my old fashioned colds. It affects
my head so that I cannot read much.
I hope I shall be well of it in a few days.
The church in Lafayette wish me to be
with them next Sabbath. They are having
quite a revival among them. I think
they number 15 or 20 communions. A Mr
Chapman who has been a colporteur of
our Board in Wooster Presbytery has been
laboring among them for several weeks
and his his labours seem to have been

blessed, but he is not an ordained minister
and for that reason they wish me to come
and administer to them the Lord's supper
and perhaps the ordinance of baptism.
I am rejoiced to learn that that church
is likely to live and prosper. The Baptists
dedicated their new Church here last Thurs
day. Unless they warm it better than
they did dedication day I fear they
will not have a very crowded choir.
The Presbyterian church has just
the same number of communicants
that it had a year ago. The Methodists
are holding a protracted meeting with
what success I know now. Edward is
giving good satisfaction as superintend
ant of our Sabbath School. I think he will
be very useful. I suppose ere this you are
through with the trial of parting with
Henry and Hattie. I pitty you. May you be
supported. Your loving father V. Noyes



塞维利亚 1876 年 1 月 17 日
我亲爱的女儿玛莎
我相信我很感谢你一个月前收到的一封信。
通过大约两周前寄出的最后一个包裹，
您可能已经得知您的兄弟弗朗西斯在 12 月 22 日被叫走了。
我想从之前的信件中，
您在一定程度上为悲痛的情报做好了准备。
虽然他已经消瘦了很久，
但他的死终于突然降临在我们身上。
我比家里其他人都在寻找它。
我在他去世前的几个晚上退休了，
期待在早上之前被叫到他去世。
他住的最后一个晚上，
他相当不安，
抱怨比平时更痛苦。
最后一天，
我大部分时间都坐在他的床边，
握着他的手。
他几乎不停地看着我，
似乎不愿意我离开他。
由于我的耳聋，
我无法与他交谈太多。
我向他引用了启示录 21. 4. 中的一段祝福经文，
并说在这个世界上经历了上帝子民的所有苦难。
我不知道他是否意识到他的结局如此接近，
或者我们没有通知他是否正确。
家人担心他的任何情绪激动都可能加速结局。
他似乎在整个疾病期间都完全信赖救主。
有一次他跟我说过他的前世有不好的一面。
我告诉他，
我们不是靠自己的行为，
而是靠基督来拯救我们。
我很确定他很好。
他的母亲和姐姐把他照顾得很好，
我们努力满足他的每一个需要。
我从来没有像其他人那样对他的治疗有过隐含的信心，
但我相信他完全满意。
一家人日夜照顾他，
但他们得到了休息和请求。
他的尸体被关押在他心爱的妻子坟墓的北侧。
我现在得了一种老式感冒。
它影响了我的头脑，
所以我不能阅读太多。
我希望几天后我会好起来的。
拉斐特的教会希望我下个安息日能和他们在一起。
他们中间有相当大的复兴。
我认为他们有 15 或 20 次圣餐。
查普曼先生曾在伍斯特长老会担任我们董事会的撰稿人，
他已经在他们中间工作了几个星期，
他的工作似乎得到了祝福，
但他不是按立的牧师，
因此他们希望我来管理对他们来说是主的晚餐，
也许是洗礼的教仪。
我很高兴得知那个教会可能会活下来并兴旺发达。
上周四，
浸信会信徒在这里奉献了他们的新教堂。
除非他们比奉献日更好地温暖它，
否则我担心他们不会有一个非常拥挤的合唱团。
长老会教堂的信徒人数与一年前相同。
卫理公会正在举行一场旷日持久的会议，
我知道现在取得了怎样的成功。
爱德华作为我们安息日学的负责人非常满意。
我认为他会很有用。
我想在这之前你已经完成了与亨利和海蒂分手的考验。
我可怜你。
愿你得到支持。
你慈爱的父亲 V. Noyes

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