The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

Craig D. Ritchie to Jane M. Wylie, Bloomington, Indiana
829 Arch St Philadelphia Pa.
Monday, February 21 st 1859.
My dear Jane,
I am very sorry that I must begin this letter with an expression of the sorrow I felt at
hearing of the death of Aunt Margaret. Though the few weeks I spent with you in the summer
of 1855 were short and fleeting, and though that period was the only time I have ever had any
intercourse with your mother, they were long enough to make me love her, and to enable me to
perceive and appreciate all her many amiable and endearing qualities. I have and ever shall look
back to that visit with feelings of unmingled satisfaction, and I am the more glad now that I made
it as I thus had an opportunity of knowing my aunt ere she was taken away. Any consolations I
could attempt to offer you all, under this bereavement, would be vain, for your hearts alone can
know what it is to lose a mother,--mine was taken from me ere I knew the meaning of life or
death. One sure source of comfort you have in the certainty that she is happier now than she ever
could have been on earth, and while the uncountable ages of eternity roll on they will bring only
fresh joys, for her last sorrow has been endured, her last trial passed away.
I have been quite unwell for a few weeks passed, having had a bad cold and a severe
bilious spell. From the latter I have now recovered but my cold still harasses me. Almost every
one is suffering from colds. We have had no winter in the sense of cold weather, snow and ice,
but since the first of November it has rained two or three times a week, and I do not think we have
a score of really clear days since that period. Today is an excep tion to the rule. Yesterday was
rainy & exceedingly warm, almost any fire was oppressive, yet fires had to be kept up to keep the
damp out. Such weather is the cause of many colds & when any one is attacked it is hard to get
well.
Will Letterman had a very serious attack of typhoid fever in December. He was
considered in great danger for several days but finally weathered the storm and is now well and at
his business again. He lost however about two months from his confinement to bed & subsequent
great weakness.
Cousin Jack Letherman is here at present. He has a furlough till some time in March, and
during the meantime is amusing himself by studying as hard as if he was a second course student
working for a diploma. I am sorry you are not here to make his acquaintance. He will probably
be ordered to Oregon after his leave of absence expires.
Anderson was down a few weeks ago & spent about ten days in the city, during which I
saw but little of him as he passed his time running about among the ministers etc.. He was buying
books for a public library he has started at Bloomsburgh, is working very hard, looks well, and is
much pleased with his post, the country and the people & has had many additions to his church.
He positively denies being engaged to any lady.
I hope you will be able to keep your partial promise of coming East next winter. Many
changes may occur before that time, but no change in my affection for you or in the pleasure a
visit from you would give me can occur.
I had seen in the papers before I received your last letter a brief statement of the troubles
you have had in the University. Are they settled yet, & were the charges against Dr. Daily proved
to be true? Write me a full account.
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I expect to hear from you very soon. You should return good for evil and if sometimes
a letter from me should be delayed longer than is usual attribute it to the pressure of business,
sickness or to any cause other than a lack of affection, for then you might hit upon the true reason,
but in the latter case never.
Give my love to Cousins Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth and Re -dick, and believe me now, as
ever,
Your affectionate Cousin,
Craig D. Ritchie
Miss Jane Wylie,
Bloomington, Ind.
Jack Letherman dined with us yesterday. I mentioned writing to you, & he desired me to
give his love to you all --
Craig Ritchie (uncle of Craig D. Ritchie of previous letter) to Elizabeth Wylie McCalla,
Bloomington, Indiana
Canonsburg [Penn] Feby 23. 1859
Dear Elizabeth
A few days ago I read a Bloomington paper containing a notice of the death of your
Mother. (my sister Margaret)
I need not say with what surprise it took me as I had not heard of her illness, From her
strong constitution & her usual good health I was not at all prepared to hear of her death. I
presume it must have been very sudden & unexpected to you all, as well as to us at a distance.
I feel anxious dear Elizabeth to know more of the particu lars of her sickness, & of the
circumstances attending her last illness,
When you have leisure I hope you will write me about it. --Your mother was my oldest
sister, and I was quite a small boy when she was married & left home. I remember, however quite
distinctly of visiting her when she lived in Washington, Pa., but saw her only once or twice after
she removed from Washington to Bloomington.
This affliction has come upon you no doubt in an unexpected time, as all usually do. My
prayer for you is that you may be supported and comforted under it with those consolations of the
Gospels which are neither few nor small.
Give my love & sympathy to your brother & the other members of the family that may be
with you. I do deeply feel for you in the loss of such a mother, & sympathize with you, & hope
that a kind providence may make this severe trial work out for you a far more exceeding weight
of Glory.
There are sorrows of such a heavy weight that no earthly friend can lift them from the
heart. but I rejoice that there is an almighty friend & helper, able & willing to relieve & comfort
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