Kenyon college Gambier
Ohio March 12 1862

My very dear Miss Lascelles,

You will scarcely be surprised to hear that either one or other of our dear parents has left us. My darling father breathed his last, my birthday, the third of March about half past ten at night. For six or seven months he bore a great suffering from a tumour on the liver, very malignant in its character. He had no pain latterly all his suffering was before he gave up going into the city for business. For the last five weeks or so he was confined to bed.. God graciously spared him to me for a week after I went down to see him. His mind was as fresh and rigorous as I can remember it. He could take no sustenance except egg beat up in brandy, brandy and water, and sometimes sherry. Mamma and I lay on a mattress near his bed as we used to do during our beloved Sarah's long sickness (not long to us but to her). He seldom wanted anything. His calm childlike reliance on the merits of his Saviour was unspeakably comforting to us, at intervals his mind relived life, he spoke to us of his entire satisfaction with us, and thanked us for our care of him. His parting with our mother was too much almost, his look of agony at her. Fortunately for her eyes were too dim to see it. He slept from 1 o'clock on the afternoon on the day he died and never after opened his eyes in this world. John Cinnamon's kind consideration at the time I trust shall never be effaced. He stayed with us through all the trying scene and smothered and composed his eyes and helped us dress out dear father and make him nice for Willy who had gone that morning to Louisville, leaving Emily his wife in Cincinnati, not wishing her to be fatigued by returning with him perhaps a few days. Our dear father had his own clergyman with him. He gave all directions to Nannie and Willie. He did not wish any one but his own children to see him after the spirit returned to god. My husband was telegraphed for and came to us as soon as he could , in time to accompany us to the grave of our dear loved father and then the same night at ten o'clock we left The Hills for Gambier. Papa was so easily? attended and so thankful for every little office of affection. Though so weak that he could not hold a cup up to his head, he bore all with cheerfulness and lost his own pain in trying to comfort us. His eyes got very sore, and his face and body so very thin that it was painful to look at him. Mother bore up better than we expected, but I know at such a time one scarcely knows what effect the bereavement will have on her. When all the daily routine of life resumes its ….

I remain my dear miss Lascelles your affected and attached

Kate Trimble