Joseph Blount Cheshire to Joseph Henry Bowditch, 21 December 1893
[From Joseph Blount Cheshire in Tarboro, North Carolina, to Joseph Henry Bowditch in Micaville, North Carolina. He responds to Joseph Bowditch's letter about the consecration of Joseph Blount Cheshire's son as assistant bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina; says it's been an eventful year; and says he's been seriously ill three times during the past year.
The letter was found inside an envelope (not a mailing envelope) with the title "How to get Cigarette Paper, See inside for instructions," the address "The American Tobacco Company, 111 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y.," and the name "Duke's Mixture Dept. B." Handwritten on the envelope is "Dr. Cheshire's Letter & Picture." In addition to the letter itself, also in the envelope is a black-and-white picture, possibly from a magazine (the paper is glossy), of a man about 65-70 years old, with white hair and beard, with the caption "The late Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire, D. D."]
Tarboro N. C. Decr 21st ‘93
My Dear Friend,1
I was very glad indeed to hear from you, and I should have been pleased if you could have been with us to share in our joy, and to witness the consecration service, and the attendant circumstances. There never was any event in the History of North Carolina which was as impressive in its solemnity and the deep spirited interest which was manifested by all the great congregation. And I could not see it for I was confined by illness to my bed.
This year has been one of the most eventful of my whole life. I have lost one son2 and seen the other3 advanced to the highest office of the Church with such favour and appreciation by almost the whole Diocese as never was equalled. I have celebrated the 50th anniversary of my marriage in the same little Church where it was performed, with crowds of friends attending, but 2 or 3 only of those who were present at the first ceremony present at this one.
I have three times during this year been brought to the very gates of death. Once in Feby I lay one whole day & night perfectly senseless, from which I slowly recovered. The 30th day of May and the 2 first days of June I lay senseless and almost dead the whole time, and recovered after a very long time. And the Sunday before the day of my sons consecration I was again prostrated with utter unconsciousness and hardly recovered enough during the following week to take in the great event or to enjoy the honour & respect which pounds in upon me from all the visiting crowd. Since that event I have begun to amend and now can get about with measurable ease, tho' like Old Jacob, I go halting upon my staff. But in all these trying and eventful times I have been blessed with such inward peace and joy, that what would[?] seem the hard part of my lot has been as blessed as the part which seemed most blessed, so that I could rejoice in tribulation as much as in prosperity.
I often think of you and yours my good old friend, and often wish you could be with us, as in the old times, where we walked in the House of God as friends and communed together in Christian fellowship, but that is of the past which never can return but only can live in memory. But I joy to look forward to the time of the grand reunion & communion of kindred souls in that great family of God in heaven, where there shall be no more [__?__] or sickness or pain of death but the perfect consummation of eternal bliss.
With best love to all of you, and from all of us,
I remain as ever your friend & brother,
Jos. Blount Cheshire4
To
Mr. Jos. H. Bowditch
Micaville
Yancey City
N. C.