1983.030.

0122 Letters Ranger Family Richfield Jan 12th 1848 Respected Aunt & Cousins I now throug this medium announce to you the painful inteligence that Mother has passed off to the silent land of the sleepers, there to rest 'till the Arch-angels trump shall sound to wake the sleeping millions. She died Dec-29th just as the sun had finished his labor of light and sunk behind yon western horison. The day was calm and beautiful not a cloud to show its angry crest but a lgiht mist high in the air that broke the suns too dassling splendor the south wind just waved the tree tops and with the decending sun sunk in complete stillness Such was the time when the rapt spirit took its flight from this earth where sickness and death reighns triumphant to yon world, of felicity where flowers bloom in never ceasing fragrance where prain and death never enters where mourning never is heard where healths sparkling waters flows & murmer through roseate plains of bliss for years that have no end. Coincidence sublime and beautiful! the verry elements in unison with Myself her who passed from earth Her health had been quite poor for some time but had been about and went a visiting about three weeks before she died. She took some cold we suppose nothing seemed to do her any good but gradually wasted away 'till her death She did not complain of being in much pain but her cough dried up she said from the first that she should not live that she was willing to go that she should be carried out New Years and she was just 18 years after Father She retained her sences to the verry last and as she was going dying said I am going. she died firm in the faith of a glorious immortality beyond the grave I need not tell you that we are lonely here But Hope wipes off the being tear Uncle Aunt & the girls were up from Sherburne - & they were here from the flats with the exception of Aunt Frasier she was not well enough to come How often we are called upon to mourn the loss of friends how often our fondest anticipations are blasted how oft' the rose morn's o'ercast with darkning clouds yet somtimes

the sun breaks forth thereron in dassling splendor flowers bloom birds sing and waters murmer sweet There is some bright spots on this earth notwithstaning man has disobeyed the laws of himself & his God has sown thick the seeds of sin whose fruit is death to say there is traces of beauty yet. But if he would live in harmony with himself and his God O what a world this then would be . And why will he not its within his reach O pluck and eat from this tree of life joys from the world of bliss honey from the flowers of heaven manna from the new Jerusalem fruits on which Angels banquet pluck, eat and live! But I am spinning this letter to a great length I would however say that we & our connexions in this vicinity are in usual health & most sincerely hope that you all are in glorious health and spirits. And now dear Aunt one word to you mourn not unduly for your sister think that she is better off in yon world of joy than she could be here indulge the hope that when thy toils here are oer thou wilt meet her there to part no more. Give our love to all enquiring friends & pleas except our best wishes for your health and happiness. Adieu

Naomi Ranger & family Daniel

P.S. Pleas to write as soon as convenient