393. Edward Moulton-Barrett (father) to His Children
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 274–275.
[London]
Monday. [Postmark: 3 January 1831]
My beloved Children
Your letter this morning received has removed a great weight of uneasiness from my mind in the assurance it conveys to me that our dear Ba is so much better, thank our God for this & may He pardon our fears, doubts & want of unceasing reliance on His always superintending love towards us. I found Trepsack of course in much affliction, but yet greatly supported & notwithstanding the length of the illness of our blessed departed one [1] & her increasing weakness, yet somewhat surprised at its immediate unexpectedness, as this was the only serious attack of her many she had had, in which she did not keep her bed. But His thoughts are not our thoughts:– Let His will be done, for thus has it seemed good to Thee, Oh Lord– I will not speak of her whom we loved living & love dead, for I cannot venture on the subject, neither will I pain you already sensibly alive to your own impressions of what we have lost– Trepsack desires me to say every thing for her, you must understand this. For myself I am kept I believe by the only consolation worth the having, that it is God’s dealing with me, and I trust that I may be made to use it as unto the Lord– Be this Truth my beloved Children ever before you that sooner or later Death cometh to all, nor the less one in point of fact, but the far more important as regards our peace here & hereafter, whether we die to live again or subject to the second <dea>th, the lake of fire. Oh may we by the grace of God so pass this life, that a glorious entrance may be ministered unto us in that to come. To our God & Saviour & to the Power of His Spirit I commit you, My own loves
Yr affectionate Papa
Your things will be sent from here.
Address, on integral page: Miss H Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. His mother, Elizabeth Moulton, had died on 29 December 1830.
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