[Letter from Florence Willard Summers to her sister Mary [Marie] Jane 
Willard Cummings, November 28, 1898, on the death of their mother, 
Telitha Summers Willard.]

      Yerby P.O., Freestone Co.
                        Tex.
             November 28, 1898
             
      Mrs Marie Cumming
                   Dear Sister
I will try to drop you a few 
lines. This leaves us all well 
except cold. hopeing this will
find you all the same well.
Marie how sad oh had[how] sad
this day has be[e]n. dear Mother 
died last night about 11 ocl[oc]k
at Frank[’s]. She was well and
eat a h[e]arty Supper. Ann said
it seam like more than she
us[ual]ly did and was jolly all day
and a but[about] a leven [eleven] o’clock she
call[ed] Frank. he got up. She 
was sitting up in the bed 
and said she could not lay
down. he carried her to the 

              [p. 2]
             
fire. Josie was there. her and 
Ann got up. She said she 
wanted some turpentine. Ann
fix[ed] it for her and asked her
if she did not want some
whiskey. She said yes. She fix[ed]
it but could not drink it.
She aske[d] for watter. Frank
started for it and [she] call[ed] him
and told [him] she was dying.
She said Farank[sic] I am nearly
gone and glorie halalueia.
Ann and Josie laid her
on the bed and she took
one more breath. Marie
she looke[d] just like she was
a sleep. her eyes and mouth
was closed just as sweet as 
a babie. a smile on her face
She was burried in her black
Sattin dress. I think she
had [it] at your house. Frank had
Miss Lula Rogers at 

             [p. 3]

town to make her a black
silk cap or Fancy Bonnet 
trim[med] in black silke lace with
Sattin rib[b]on String. She [looked]
so sweet and nice but oh 
so hard to give her up 
to sit here to night and 
know I am a Fatherless and 
a motherless child, no 
Father or mother to come 
to see me now. Oh how
hard to know they sleep 
beneath the sod but we
all have to dye and may
I oh Lord be prepared to
meet them in heaven.
Brother talked over her and 
sung we are thare air [they are] 
gathering slowly gathering 
in that fair and sadless 
land. Marie I will close 
by saying write to [us] soon.
Your Sister   Florence Summers