Thursday, December 29, 2011

Sad Ending to a Young Life

Annie was my grandmother Nevard's sister. She married Herbert Button.
A letter from Susan Hall to her daughter, Mary Nevard in Canada.
Grove Farm
Saxmundham
Nov. 13th, 1910
My Dear Mary
I thought you would like to hear from me again as soon as I could write. You asked me about things that you couldn't understand. I will try to explain everything. I may have told the same before.
I received a letter from dear Annie the Thursday after the baby was born, it was born the Tuesday night.
In it, it said Annie was going on alright and I needn't worry but I still felt bad when I found the dear little baby was dead. I wrote back directly and she received my letter that same night and she was very pleased to receive it. Then I had a postcard on the Saturday morning to say she was going on nicely.
The next monday morning there was a letter to say that poor Annie was suddenly taken worse the Saturday night. I said well I must go and see by the next train, so Alice and I both went. We couldn't have both went and left Louie but Mrs. Nevard came here the Friday before.
We sent a telegram to Herbert to say what train we would be going by. He met us at Liverpool street and told us poor Annie had passed away. We wanted to go and see her but he said he couldn't take us it would be too much for us coming so sudden and he couldn't bear it. But he said he had sent a telegram for Father to go up but we were got to the station before it came. He kept saying he wanted Father to come so he sent a telegram to Father to say we were coming home, would he go. So Father went by the five train. Alice and I were very much upset. We felt it terribly to think we couldn't see her. Alice took her night dress and other things, I though she could stop with Annie a few days.

When Father went he cheered Herbert all he could. He said he had nothing to live for in this world. He seemed as if he didn't know what he was doing. They all told Father he had done him a world of good.
Father said he done the right thing not having us go to see dear Annie. If I had known I would have left anything to have gone and see her before she died.
Dick and Maude had been waiting to come when Annie and Herbert came for their holiday. I am sending you a memorial card of dear Annie. They were not done when I wrote to you.

Herbert's sister, Susie, thats living in London used to go and see Annie very often. She was there the Thursday before she died. She said she worried so about losing the baby. I wish they had wrote and told me then. I should have gone but I didn't know it.
We shall send you some of dear Annie's clothes later on. We thought of sending her wedding coat and shirt and white silk blouse as I should like to send something good. We were glad to hear you had got the threshing over. I hope you will be able to make a good price. I will answer Ernie's nice letter another time
Hoping this will meet you all quite well.
With love to all I remain your everloving Mother.
Susan Hall

3 comments:

  1. It seems there's never a shortage of tragedy in this world.

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  2. With today's medical care, both mother and child would likely have survived.

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  3. So are we better or worse as people, for not having to deal with tragedy on a regular basis. I remember my Grandmother telling me about babies who died and a baby sister she had never seen. She was an incredibly strong and incredibly kind person.
    Anyway I enjoy your historical posts.
    My uncle and another farmer were talking about going to the Pendleton roundup as kids. It was a really interesting story but my father (who took them at age 14?!) was obsessed with figuring out how to do percentages and sending a package to BC and kept interrupting with off the wall comments that only made sense if you followed his hour long train of thought. He will be 93 in January.

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