Dwight Henry Cory Letters and Diary

I have put off writing this terrible letter as long as I suppose it is right to do. I got Eld. Casler to write at first as I felt that I could not do it. This sudden bereavement seems almost more than we can endure, but we feel that we have no cause to mourn for our Edith, but only for ourselves, because we are so lonely. Of course you will wish to know something of the circumstances and I will try to give them as best I can.

Two weeks ago the middle of last week (this is Sunday) Arthur had a sore throat and I saw a whitish spot on one of the tonsils. His Pa took him directly to the Dr's as we were afraid of diphtheria and he said it was not at all like diphtheria. Said it was canker, and that he could take his medicine and go to school as well as not. He did not go that day but I think he did the next. He was entirely over it in a few days. The following Sunday (two weeks ago today) Edith complained in the same way and we went immediately to using the same medicine as for Arthur. Monday morning her throat was no better, had more spots on it and we took her to the Dr's. He said the same as he did about Arthur. We asked him over and over again if it could be Diphtheria. He always answered that it was only cankered sore throat and would soon be well. He said that she could go to school, but we did not let her. Wednesday she was real well, knit quite a good deal and had fun generally; but towards night she seemed hoarse and had a very peculiar feeling in her throat all night; in the morning we went to the Dr. and he did not seem to think he needed to see her, but sent some medicine that he said would alleviate her. But she had bad spells during the day when her breath seemed tight. In the middle of the afternoon (Thurs.) we sent for the Dr. and he then called it diphtheria for the first time. He brought another Dr. in almost immediately but he said it would be a very easy case to manage. She rested very well that night and both the Dr.'s came again in the morning and said she was doing well and the second Dr. called, assured me that there was no cause for alarm and I did not know otherwise as I had never seen a case before and she was around the house all the time and had a very good appetite. She did not rest good Fri. night but got up quite bright Sat. morn. Both Dr.s came and said she wad decidedly better. Of course I believed it. Her throat did look better, but these bad spells of breathing still continued. She never seemed to have them as bad when the Dr.s were in. Her breathing was so bad all day that I felt alarmed. The old Dr. came toward night (the young Dr. was out of town for the night) and I could see that he was puzzled. After he went away, I could not keep my tears back. Edith asked what I was crying about. I told her that I was afraid we could not cure her and asked her if she would be afraid to die. She said no and that she had thought very likely she would not live. It did not seem to disturb her in the least and she begged me not to cry. She said she suffered nothing except the effort of breathing. It was a terrible night. Others were here with us. We did everything that could be thought or suggested. We sent for the Dr. about midnight and sent for him to bring whatever help he needed. He brought another Dr., one who had not seen her. They worked faithfully and I think achieved a little but in spite of everything I thought she would smother when those worst spells came on. She breathed with difficulty all the time but worse by times. She had not spoken loud since Thurs. night but the Dr. said that was a common symptom of the disease. She called for Arthur and Louie about Three o'clock Sun. morn. and kissed them. She kept saying, "I cannot stand this long." She was a little more quiet in the morn. but we were sure her time was nearly come. In the morning her Pa asked her if should would be afraid to die. She said no and then in a few minutes she called for us all and said, "All, Come to heaven. Tell the schoolgirls goodby and come to heaven. Tell Aunt Alice she was going to see little Allie, and that she thought when little Allie died she would be the next." I told her she would see Grandma Rice and Aunt Hattie's little Charlie.

During this conversation she seemed not at all disturbed. I told her how lonesome I should be, how I should miss her music and how I should want to see her so very much when I could not. Then she said, "Ma, I wish you had a good picture of me." (I have none taken since she was 4 or 5 years old) All this conversation was very comforting, but yet it seemed that she was dearer to me than ever. Sun. was a terrible day. She had her full strength and would make such desperate efforts to breathe. The house was full of good people all day. She liked to have them sing and once when they stopped she whispered to her Pa, "Why don't they sing more hymns." All the afternoon she looked as if she were dying and we supposed she was. The Drs. gave up her case toward night and another Dr. sent word that he wanted a chance. At first I thought it too bad to disturb a dying child, but he said he would do nothing to disturb her and that he only wanted one hour to try his remedies. We finally consented and the change he produced was wonderful. He relieved her breathing entirely. She returned to her natural color (she had been purple most of the day) and she ate and enjoyed the change wonderfully. This was after dark. She slept quietly. All the Drs. came back to see her and said she was better. I did allow myself to hope and yet it was with a terrible fear. After midnight, the medicines did not seem to have the same effect and we could see that the old thing was creeping slowly back, and yet we did not give up hope. The Dr. took the 9 1/2 train and went to a town 12 miles south of here to consult a former partner who had had unusually good success with this disease, and returned at 11 1/2 bringing the man with him. She had already become purple again. They tried to do something but she passed quietly away about 1 o'clock.

I was so afraid she would choke but she did not. If it had not been for that last treatment commenced the night before, she doubtless would. I was so thankful that she did not struggle; but O it did seem so hard to give her up and more especially after we thought she was given back to us from a dying state. I believe if we had had the last treatment at first she would have been well now, but we used every means that we were aware of at the time and can not blame ourselves. She passed away Mon. 1 p.m. and the funeral was Tues. 2 p.m. Father & Mother Adams, Oscar & Mary, John & Alice & Lydia were here.

They said it was the poison that had passed into the blood that caused her death.

Arthur and Louie seem to be well, but Lizzie, my hired girl was taken with it suddenly yesterday morning but I guess she is going to get along without any trouble. We sent for the same Dr. that relieved Edith at the last. He gets most of the cases now. I do not know of many cases now, and no serious ones. Theron is taking some medicine today. His throat seems to be a little out of order but no spots have appeared. We have all been using preventatives.

There is no school the coming week, as to anything further I do not know. There has been a great deal of excitement considering the number that have died. Only two, Edith Robinson and our Edith and they just one week apart. The people have been very kind indeed. We could ask no more of them that they have done. We received a letter of sympathy from Dr. Howell & wife of Goodrich yesterday. Human sympathy is good but it cannot fill the void caused by death. Edith could do anything she undertook. She was doing very nicely in her music. I must say that I have felt very satisfied with the progress of all my children, and they have seemed to be so well disposed that they have caused me very little anxiety. Edith was almost a woman and was so much company for me. She did not care to run and romp like some of the neighbors girls. She said they were so rough. While the boys followed their Pa, she was left with me, but now, Oh! The lonely hours that I must spend. I ought not to be selfish and wish her back into this world of trouble just to please me when she is better off shut away from all sin, but yet I cannot help feeling that my loss is very great. Now I have not even one little girl. The snow is gently falling today on the ground where Edith sleeps, but she feels it not. She lies in a beautiful white casket on a side hill in the cemetery half a mile out of town. I have never liven in any place in Mich. before where I ever felt I would be willing to bury my family, but the people here are so very, very good. I always did feel very sorry for people when they buried their children and have dreaded the time when it would be my misfortune to do the same. I do not know as it has been any harder than I expected. Her talk and composure about the matter is a great comfort and I consider that we have indeed a treasure in heaven.

This letter is to you all. I cannot write these circumstances again. It has taken all the courage that I could summon to do it this time. At first I thought I must have Pa here if no one else could come, but I saw that the time was so very short that he could not get here if we sent a telegram so we gave it up. Write soon

Yours in sorrow

Melissa


Rec'd Harriet's letter Friday

Louis rec'd that picture of your dear little baby last Wed. He was quite delighted and we were all glad to get it but it did not seem as good as it would if our eyes had been free from tears and Edith had been here to see it too. I think she looks like her mother across her eyes. How still she sat. Louie said he thought she ought to have a few pennies for sitting so still.

I suppose you have seen an account of the Fitch murder. Of course we know all the parties concerned as they lived across the street from the schoolhouse in Goodrich. The children went to our school. It was a terrible thing.

Father Adams & wife did not go home until Friday.

Melissa

Page:  Intro   1    2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19 

Questions or comments welcome.
Mail to: lovelxxx@iredell.net