Cole Letter, 1883 - Floyd Co. VA (Submitter note: This is a letter written by Cynthia Winfrey Cole wife of Harvey Cole, they lived at Terry's Fork, Floyd Co. It is about her daughter Paradine's death. She along with her parents and young brother Harvey Jr. are buried on the hillside there. Cole's Knob Rd also borders it. Paradine was born April 16, 1864, died July 18,1883 Her proper name was Cynthia.) I will write of my dear daughter Paradine. She died on the morning July 18,1883 aged 19 years and three months. She was sick over three weeks, the doctor done all he could for her. She could not becovered. Brother Cummings was with her the most of the time. She did not want him to leave her. She would ask him to pray for her, he did so often. She said, "Mother, you have been so good to wait on me." She said she did not think she would get well. About midnight the 16th ,she told her Father she was dying, then she could not speak a wrod for three hours. She had her right mind all the time. She said she had been dying three hours. Said the clock struck so natural. She said she wanted to leave her suffering and did not want to get well and wanted to go to her brother Harvey. He was killed by a tree falling. She said, "I see him now, I don't want to get well, I want to go to him." She was cold and she did not want me to warm her up, she said she wanted to be cold. She called the family to the bed, to kiss her and told them to try and meet her in heaven. Two of her sisters were not present. She told my Mother to to tell them to try and meet her in heaven. She said, "Tell brother Pleasant to never bewicked, to try and meet her in heaven. She ask if anyone had anything against her? She said," I haven't got anything against a living soul, I love everyone." She ask her Uncle Fleming Cole to get brother John C. Hall and Cummings to preach her funeral. She would put her cold and feeble arms around us to kiss her. Oh! How I loved her. She did not belong to the church but called the preacher brother. I believe she felt they were brother to her. She got so weak she had to stop talking. She ask her Uncle Fleming Cole how far her breath reached. He told her, no further then her chest. She says,"How many pulse?" He told her they were all gone out of her arms. She said," How long will I have to suffer?" He says, " I see day breaking in the east, I think when day comes you will be done. She raised her hands, laid them on her breast and said she was ready for the call. She went without a struggle. Written by Cynthia Winfrey Cole Submitted by Peggy Aldhizer **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************