File:Caleb Mekeel letter to Richard Pell Hunt (3559d998569a4292b6f34cf69e2523ed).pdf

English: NPGallery

English: Caleb Mekeel

English: Organization: US National Park Service
Role: Archivist
Address: Women's Rights National Historical Park, 136 Fall Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148

English: Richard Pell Hunt, 1797-1856

English: “Vernon 12 mo 19th 1835
Dear Richard,
Thy truly sympathizing letter came to hand soon after it was written, & I can assure you thee afforded me much comfort, as it was an evidence, that I was affectionately remembered by my dear friends at a time, when my poor tired spirit was wading under deep affliction – it is at such seasons that the kind notice of a dear friend is like cold water to a thirsty soul. I but little thot dear Rich’d when my dear Ann & I were addressing (only a brief period since) a letter of condolence to thee, that my situation would soon be like unto thine, & that I should be so quickly called upon to exercise that christian resignation, that I then felt it right to recommend to thee – O, I find now in my new lines of experience, how frail poor human nature is, & how much easier it is for us to recommend to others a proper course, whan to practise upon it ourselves – I find it much easier to acknowledge the justice of the Almighty, and his perfect right to afflict me in taking from me my dearest earthly treasure, than to feel that perfect acquiesence to that sore deprivation, that I know is called for at my hands – I feel that the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak” – I find encouragement however in the declaration, that his “judgements are mingled with mercy, & hope to be able, feelingly to say with tribulated Job “the Lord hath given, & the Lord hath taken away, blessed be his holy name.”-- My dear Ann’s illness was short, only 5 days duration—she had what was considered a comfortable confinement, & continued smart for two days, then the fever set in, accompanied by a violent inflamation of the lower part of the bowels, which entirely baffled the skill of the Physicians – her pulse standing from 120 to 130 from the time she was first attak’d, till a few hours before her death – nothing prescribed seemed to reach the disease, or for a moment retarded its progress --- I was very apprehensive that the raging fever & severe pain would soon deprive her of her reason
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but to our mutual consolation, she was mostly favored with a clear sound mind, till about 12 hours before the close – the dear Lamb when first apprized of her dangerous situation, was much agitated, & said she was not prepared to die, & regretted exceedingly that she had lived so much to the world, & so little to the glory of her Creator, often expressing, O how trifling are all worldly things compared to the pearl of great price – her poor mind was in great anguish, praying for mercy & forgiveness, under a very humbling sense of her own unworthiness – but after wrestling about 2 days, she was fav’d to find him of whom Moses & the Prophets did write – she called me to her bedside & told me with a placid, serene countenance, that she had been able to assign all up into the hands of her Heavenly Father & that, if he saw fit to take her now, she was willing and ready to go; &entreated me not to grieve for her, but to endeavor to fell resigned – that the separation, tho very trying to poor human nature, would be but for a short season – She then had Abby sent for, & gave her & gave her the Baby requesting her to be a Mother to her dear child and bring it up in friends way – She now seemed to be done with this world, & centered her mind on Heaven & Heavenly things, often impressing it upon us, not to do as she had done, put off preparation for death till a dying hour, but warned us to make it the first business of our living. The night previous to her death, she was entirely deranged & apparently in great distress, till 3 o’clk in the morning, when she became quiet, & continued untill 8, when her redeemed spirit left its clay tenement, & I have now doubt has been permitted to enter the New Jerusalem, there to sing praise to the Lamb, who is worthy forever & ever – O how heart rending is such a scene, to stand by the sick bed of our dearest bosom friend, & see them racked with pain, without being able to mitigate one pang; & to mark its progress of the insidious discard, that will soon cut the silken thread of life, & snatch them from our embrace, is indeed the most cutting dispensation that can be meted out to us; yet whenever we can reflect
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that it is the Lords doing, & that our loss is the dear objects eternal gain, it goes a great way towards reconciling us to the bitter cup. As respects my present condition, I have taken the same view that thou hast, & intend going on with any business as heretofore – I am now at Abram’s, with Abby & the Babe, but expect to return with them to my little cottage in a few weeks – my dear little daughter has been quite unwell, I began to think I must part with that also, but it is now quite smart, & seems to improve it looks very much like its mother – I hope to be permitted to raise it –Abram, Sarah & Abby all send much love to thee & we shall all be very glad to have a visit from thee this winter why can’t thee ride down & see us?
I must now close & subscribe myself thy affect. & afflicted Uncle
C [Caleb] Mekeel."
back of document:
"Richd P. Hunt Waterloo Seneca Co."
"Caleb Mekeel 12 19 1835"

English: 2

English: Content Location: Vernon, NY; Women's Rights National Historical Park, Seneca County, New York; Latitude: 42.9025993347168, Longitude: -76.8444976806641

English: U.S. National Park Service