Letter from Josiah Noyes to Brother, March 12, 1840

noyes_c_cor_892.pdf

Dublin Core

Title

Letter from Josiah Noyes to Brother, March 12, 1840

Subject

Death; Heaven; Seizures, Convulsive; Typhus fever; Soul--Christianity; Mortality; Funeral services; Sins; Widows; Indemnity; Politics and government; Jesus Christ--Second Advent

Description

In this letter to Varnum, Josiah writes about their father's sickness; he had a seizure so Josiah thinks that he might die soon. Then, he informs Varnum that their cousin Edward Noyes has died (apparently of typhus fever) and includes a reflection about mortality and the soul. Josiah describes the funeral, the sermon, Edward's last few months, his personality, his will, and his widow's future plans. A few nights ago, Josiah had an accident on the road in Newton so he is asking the town for an indemnity. He says that "politics are now all the rage in this region" and mentions Governor Marcus Morton. Mr. Miller predicted that the coming of Christ would take place in 1843.

Creator

Noyes, Josiah

Source

Loose, The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection

Publisher

Unpublished

Date

1840-03-12

Contributor

Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant

Format

PDF

Language

eng (English)

Type

Text

Identifier

noyes_c_cor_892

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

Needham Mass. March 12, 1840
Dear Brother,
Having just returned from my ride I [u]will[/u] ap
propriate time enough-unless interrupted- to fill a short sheet for you
even [u]though it be so short[/u] time since I wrote! When sister Zoa was
with us we entered into an agreement that we three would fill
you a good large sheet. But as our time was occupied one way and
another we deferred and deferred till the sudden news of our fa
ther's sickness tore her away from us before we had entered upon
the execution of our plan. By the letter we recently received
her we are happy to learn that father has recovered in a measure
tho' he is still feeble. Last autumn he and mother made us a good
visit and seemed to enjoy it, as we also did. We were [u]very glad[/u]
to have them come and spend some time with us. They, however,
did not remain so long with as we wished and as we though
they might if they could but think so. When I heard of his sud-
den seizure by a paralytic affection I was fearful of the result and
thought how said when with us "that it might be the last time
they should visit us." Father seems not to be calculating on long
life; and, indeed, when he was here he appeared to feel as tho' he
might continue with us but a short time; life he though uncer-
tain with [u]all[/u], especially to those that have numbered their three
score years and ten, as he and mother have. Notwithstanding I
never knew him more calm and tranquil. He seemed entirely
resigned to God's will, and I do not hesitate to say that for years
past I think he has been ripening for Heaven. His sudden demise
would not have been ^been surprising; but what will you think- as it is
now my painful duty to inform you- that our cousin Edward Noyes
is dead! We attended the funeral on tuesday last at the West Parish
and looked on that form late so full of life and vigor, now cold in death.
The countenance that was lte so full of health, animation and
intelligence now shows but the wreck of what it was - for what is
the countenance or the form without the soul? What is the mortal
without the immortal? The destroyed of all that is beautiful in
the human countenance had been there and left those sad
funeral marks that usually denote the ravages of typhus fever
for such, I understand was the disease. He died in Boston, where
he sickened; his funeral was in the church in the West Parish, and
Rev. Mr. Rogers of Boston performed the services. There was a very
large collection of people. and a more solemn, and affecting funeral
I never attended. Mr R. is Pastor of Bowdoin street church of which our
cousin was a member. I never knew a discourse more adapted
to the occasion. As he depicted the death scene of our cousin
all his hearers doubtless responded in their hears, "let [u]my[/u] end
be like his." He was perfectly resigned, as we are informed, and
more happy as earth receded and the light of heaven broke
on his view. I think I hardly ever knew a person to address

others on earth who had himself advanced so far into the invis-
ible world. When asked how sin appeared - he replied "he seen"now"
-"why"? "they are all forgiven." He said he saw Christ on his throne
of glory. He seemed surprised that those around him did
not see the heavenly light that beamed on his ravished sight.
To those around him he said, "Dont [u]you[/u] see it"? - -
His death was eminently happy. Mr. Rogers gave a sketch of
his sickness and death. His theme was derived from the words of
the apostle, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."-- I have
spoken of [u]being informed[/u], for we knew nothing of his sickness till
the case was considered hopeless + he had then been sick, I think,
about two weeks. I did not see him at all till the funeral.
I do know that I have seen him since his marriage
in November last. This case is another illustration of the sentiment
I expressed in my last. He had every appearance of health + life,
and I thought it much more probable that [u]he[/u] would attend
[u]my[/u] funeral then [u]I his[/u]. He had been toiling for years and plan[?ning?]
for an establishment in life- had taken the homestead in charge [?and?]
proved it in various ways with much labor and expense, and cal-
culated to make it a permanent home for Sarah + Charles and a
summer residence for himself and wife- had just set up a
household establishment, and been married to the amiable
Clarissa Sloch, the lady of his choice, a little less than four months
and he was called to bid adieu to all earthly things. "But to die,
is gain," reiterated the preacher, "for there are more of his friends
in Heaven than on earth." His interesting qualities I hardly need to
name as you know his character already. He was a very enter-
prising, interesting, pious young, man - died on his birth-day;
last sunday, aged just 32. Sic transeunt omnis mundi. - - -
I understand he has left a will, and probably made provis-
ions for Sarah and Charles. Thomas lives in Holliston and has
about a half-dozen children. Edwards widow will probably return
to her father's at the Lower Falls. His mother in law was at the fu-
neral - has been residing at Braintree - but is now at her broth
er's in Brighton.- From Acton I have heard nothing for a long
time. I am happy to learn by sister Z that you contemplate
visiting us this spring or summer. [u]Come if you can[/u], for you
may never see our aged parents again unless you do; then we
will talk with you about our [u]trip to the West[/u]. I should have
written before, but thought I would wait the result of ^the case
of our cousin. I hope you will not follow my example when
bad, but set me on a better one. You are more in the habit
of writing that I am. Brother Augustus hardly ever writes
me. Last year I tried to make a necessity for it, but he evaded
it and obliged Zoa to write for him. Does he never write to
you? He has not been down, as I expected, this winter.

With us it is a time of general health. The winter has been
favorable. The first snow came on the 15th of December and
we hardly had a [?than hill?] that which dissolved it all. The
Blue-bird, the Herald of Spring, appeared Feb. 20th - last year on
the 11th of March - year before on the 6th of March. The Black-bird
with his, chattering has returned; also the Song, & the Social Sparrow.
The frogs were heard about a month earlier than last year,
and some shrubs - the willow especially - have put forth the
bud of spring. Till written a few days it was so warm that
it seemed the spring this year was about one month in ad-
vance of what it had been in years past. But a few days since
we had thunder and lightning; this was followed by cold very
windy, some squally weather. There is evidently at this time
snow at the west and north of us, for the winds are exces-
sively cold. The lowest that I have observed the memory the
winter past was 13° below 0. During the late warm weather it
rose to 60° + 65° in the middle of the day. Evening before last
as I was on a visit to a patient in Newton I had the mis
fortune to break my sulky badly; but as it was owing to
a dangerous place in the road, I have just written to
the authorities of the town calling upon them for an indemnity.
My life was greatly endangered by the mishap, for my horse
was frightened and uncontrollable. Rather than wond
der that people die, as they do, it is strange that they live so
long when so many dangers beset them. - Dr Jeremiah Stone,
who has been connected with the Calico printing business in
Newton, has gone to Provincetown to resume the practice
of medicine. He did not probably find Calico printing very
profitable as he "failed", as the expression is and I suppose
every one knows what it means. - A knock at the door ob-
liges me to drop my pen. x x x x Well, having finished the busi-
ness on which the gentleman called - and, by the way, he hin-
dered me a long time- and then having taken a ride some
distance to see a very sick child, I now again am seated
determined to finish my letter tho' late it be. Such inter-
ruptions are most common to me; and there is no alterna-
tive but to submit. According to your request I called
at the office of the Quarterly Register, paid as you directed
me and ordered it stopped. I have their Receipt for the sum
I received $2,0 by Timothy Walker on account of the same. [?Leer?]
ing the Publishers since they informed me that 2 Nos had
been sent you thro' mistake - a mistake of theirs. Politics
are now all the rage in this region. You doubtless know that
our present Gov. is Marcus Morton. The License Law of 1838 has been
repeated by the Legislature now in session. Mr. Mller, who predicts
the coming of Christ in 1843, is now lecturing in this vicinity and
has been for some time. What do you think of the correctness of his
calculations?- Elizabeth was to have filled a page but you see is crowded
out - may next time - sends love to you both - your brother Josiah Noyes.

[Note: Sideways]
Needham Massa 25
March 13
23
Rev Varnum Noyes
Guilford Medina Co,
Ohio.



Needham Mass. 1840 年 3 月 12 日
亲爱的兄弟,
刚从我的旅程回来,我会 ap
有足够的时间——除非被打断——为你填写一张短纸
尽管我写的时间太短了!当 Zoa 姐姐在
我们与我们签订了一项协议,我们三个人将填补
你一张好大床单。但是当我们的时间被一种方式占据时,
另一个我们推迟了又推迟到我们的家人的突然消息
在我们进入之前,她的病已将她从我们身边夺走
我们计划的执行。根据我们最近收到的信
她我们很高兴得知父亲已经康复
尽管他仍然很虚弱。去年秋天,他和妈妈让我们成为了一个好人
参观并似乎很享受,就像我们一样。我们很高兴
让他们来和我们共度时光。然而,他们
并没有像我们希望的那样长久
如果可以的话,他们可能会,但会这么想。当我听说他突然因麻痹的感情而癫痫发作时,我害怕结果,
想和我们在一起时怎么说“这可能是最后一次
他们应该来看我们。” 父亲似乎并没有计较多久
生活;而且,确实,当他在这里时,他似乎觉得他
可能会继续与我们在一起,但时间很短;尽管他对所有人的生活都不确定,尤其是对于那些已经数过他们三个的人
像他和母亲一样,得分十岁。尽管我
从来没有认识过他更平静和安宁。他似乎完全
顺从上帝的旨意,多年来我毫不犹豫地说
过去我认为他已经为天堂成熟了。他的突然死亡
不会令人惊讶;但你会怎么想——事实上
现在我有责任通知你——我们的堂兄爱德华·诺伊斯
死了!我们上周二在西教区参加了葬礼
看着那个迟到的身影,如此充满生机和活力,现在却冷若冰霜。
那张充满健康、活泼和
情报现在显示,但它是什么的残骸 - 因为什么是
没有灵魂的容貌还是形式?什么是凡人
没有不朽?摧毁一切美好的事物
人的容颜曾在那里留下那些悲伤的人
通常表示斑疹伤寒蹂躏的葬礼标记
对于这样的,我明白是病。他在波士顿去世,
他病了;他的葬礼在西教区的教堂举行,
波士顿的罗杰斯牧师进行了服务。有一个很
大量的人。以及更庄严、更有影响力的葬礼
我从来没有参加过。 R. 先生是鲍登街教堂的牧师,我们的
表弟是会员。我从来不知道更适合的话语
到场合。当他描绘我们表弟的死亡场景时
毫无疑问,他所有的听众都在他们的耳中回应,“让我结束
像他一样。”据我们所知,他完全辞职了,而且
地球退去,天上的光芒破灭时更快乐
在他看来。我想我几乎不知道一个人可以称呼

地球上的其他人,他自己已经进入了看不见的世界。当被问及罪是如何出现时 - 他回答“他现在看到了”
-“为什么”? “他们都被原谅了。”他说他看到基督在他的宝座上
的荣耀。他似乎对周围的人感到惊讶
看不到在他陶醉的视线上闪耀的天堂之光。
他对周围的人说:“你没看见吗?” - -
他的死是非常幸福的。罗杰斯先生给出了一个草图
他的疾病和死亡。他的主题来源于
使徒说:“我活着就是基督,死了就有益处。”——我有
说到被告知,因为直到我们对他的病一无所知
这个案子被认为是没有希望的,然后他病了,我想,
大约两周。直到葬礼我才见到他。
我知道自从他结婚后我就见过他
去年十一月。这个案例是情绪的另一个例证
我在我的最后表达了。他有健康和生命的每一个外表,
我认为他更有可能参加
我的葬礼然后我他的。他辛辛苦苦多年,谋划
对于生活中的一个机构-已经接管了宅基地,并且
用大量的劳动和费用以各种方式证明了它,并计划使它成为莎拉和查尔斯的永久住所以及一个
自己和妻子的避暑别墅——刚刚成立了一个
家庭建立,并与和蔼可亲的人结婚
克拉丽莎·斯洛赫,他选择的女士,还不到四个月
他被召唤告别所有尘世的事物。 “但要死,
是有收获的,”传教士重申道,“因为他的朋友越来越多
在天堂比在地球上。”他有趣的品质我几乎不需要
名字你已经知道他的性格了。他是一个非常有进取心、有趣、虔诚的年轻人——在他生日那天去世;
上周日,年仅 32 岁。Sic transeunt omnis mundi。 - - -
我知道他留下了遗嘱,并且可能为莎拉和查尔斯做好了准备。托马斯住在霍利斯顿并拥有
大约六个孩子。爱德华兹的遗孀可能会回来
到她父亲在下瀑布的家。他的岳母是在葬礼上——一直住在布伦特里——但现在在她的肉汤里
呃在布莱顿。-我很久没有听到阿克顿的消息了
时间。我很高兴Z姐姐知道你在考虑
今年春天或夏天拜访我们。可以的话来吧,为了你
除非你这样做,否则可能再也见不到我们年迈的父母;然后我们
会和你谈谈我们的西部之旅。我应该
以前写过,但我想我会等待案件的结果
我们的表弟。我希望你不要效仿我的榜样
不好,但让我选择更好的。你更习惯了
我的写作。奥古斯都弟兄几乎从不写作
我。去年我试图让它成为必需品,但他回避了
它并迫使 Zoa 为他写信。他从不写信给
你?正如我所料,今年冬天他并没有倒下。

对我们来说,这是一个整体健康的时期。冬天已经
有利。第一场雪是在 12 月 15 日
我们几乎没有一座山可以溶解这一切。这
蓝鸟,春天的先驱,于去年 2 月 20 日出现在
3 月 11 日 - 前一年的 3 月 6 日。黑鸟
他的喋喋不休又回来了;还有歌曲和社交麻雀。
青蛙的声音比去年早了一个月左右,
一些灌木——尤其是柳树——已经长出了
春天的花蕾。直到写了几天它是如此温暖以至于
今年的春天好像是一个月左右
与过去几年相比。但几天后
我们有雷电;这之后是很冷
刮风,有些狂风的天气。显然此时有
我们的西部和北部都下雪了,因为风太冷了。我观察到的最低记忆
过去的冬季气温低于 0 度 13°。在后期温暖的天气中,它
中午上升到 60° 和 65°。前天晚上
当我在牛顿拜访一位病人时,我犯了错误
幸运地打破了我的愠怒;但因为它是由于
路上一个危险的地方,我刚刚写信给
镇当局要求他们赔偿。
为了我的马,我的生命因那次事故而受到极大的威胁
被吓坏了,无法控制。与其奇怪人们会像他们那样死去,不如说他们活得如此奇怪
长久以来,有如此多的危险困扰着他们。 - 耶利米·斯通博士,
谁与印花布印刷业务有联系
牛顿,已前往普罗温斯敦恢复练习
的医学。他可能不觉得印花布印花很
像他“失败”一样有利可图,正如我想的那样
每个人都知道这意味着什么。 - 敲门声让我不得不放下笔。 x x x x 嗯,完成了那位先生打电话的事情——顺便说一下,他阻碍了我很长时间——然后搭了一趟车
远处看到一个病得很重的孩子,我现在又坐了
决定写完我的信,尽管晚了。这种中断对我来说是最常见的。除了提交,别无选择。根据你的要求,我打电话给
在季度登记处,按照您的指示付款
我并命令它停止。我有他们的收据
由于同样的原因,我收到了 Timothy Walker 的 2.0 美元。乐儿
ing 出版商,因为他们告诉我 2 Nos
被发送给你的错误 - 他们的错误。政治
现在在这个地区风靡一时。你肯定知道
我们现在的州长是马库斯·莫顿。 1838 年的许可证法
立法机关在开会期间重申了这一点。穆勒先生预测
1843 年基督降临,现在正在这附近讲学,
已经有一段时间了。你觉得他的正确性如何
计算?-伊丽莎白本来要填满一页,但你看很拥挤
出去 - 下次可能 - 向你们俩发送爱 - 你的兄弟 Josiah Noyes。

[注:侧身]
尼达姆·马萨 25
3月13日
23
瓦努姆·诺耶斯牧师
吉尔福德麦地那公司,
俄亥俄州。

Original Format

Letter

Citation

Noyes, Josiah, “Letter from Josiah Noyes to Brother, March 12, 1840,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed March 29, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/971.

Output Formats