I shall be compelled to address the envelope containing this note
to your daughter, not knowing your husband's name. I presume you
are aware that Miss ---- informed me of your son's death, and she,
I presume, sent me so kindly the paper last week containing the
obituary on him which I read with much interest, as it was such an
opinion as I and all of us had formed of your son, Julius, from his
interesting letters. I assure you that our love and sympathy are
with you in the affliction, and would that we could soften the
severe loss to you; but that alone the good Father in time can
render less bitter. True resignation consists in enduring it as
God's will.
The ladies of our Missionary Society wish me to tell you how much
all were interested in Julius's letters, and how deeply they feel
with you, and at my request send you a book of consolation, "Light
on the Cloud," as an expression of our real interest in your son.
It seemed to me that nothing could be so appropriate as the
literature he so learned to love. "He being dead yet speaketh"
(Heb. xi. 4); and such we deem would be his words to those who were
so dear to him. The President of our society marked one piece,--"He
giveth his beloved sleep," and I have marked passages through the
book, particularly under the head "Death a Blessing," and the last
poem in the book. If words can cheer you, it is our hope that this
little gift may serve the purpose. At least may it be a testimonial
to you of our deep interest in your dear boy.... Our ladies are to
hold the first meeting this season a week from to-morrow, when the
obituary notice of Julius R. Woodruff's death will be read, and
listened to with interest. He was my first correspondent, and his
letter from Colorado was particularly enjoyable. It grieves me to
think it was the last.... Hoping to hear farther from you, dear
friend, through your daughter or Miss----, and to have the pleasure
of becoming personally acquainted with you at some future day, with
a God's blessing on you one and all, far and near,
Yours in common sorrow, S. ELLIS.
The correspondence was continued with Mr. Woodruff's sister as
follows:--