Name/Title
AU Witt, B. F. - 1903-12-11 letter to Daniel and Deborah (Embree) LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.520Context
OFFICE OF
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION
OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST
Corner Main and Fourth Sts.
DAYTON, OHIO Dec. 11, 1903
My Dear Brother and Sister Lambert:
I come to you with very sad tidings praying that the dear Heavenly Father may give you strength to hear and bear.
We have just received a cablegram from Africa of the death of Elsie. I feel that it will not be any easier if I write a long letter trying to lead you up to the thought, and so I come right out with the bare statements, but oh, it looks so cold, and my heart aches so for you.
The cablegram is dated Dec. 11, 1903 Sierra Leone and contains the one code word "Duchetto," meaning by this code — this, — died after a short illness. Signed Riebel.
Only this and nothing more, we must wait a month for more particulars.
We have a letter from Mr. Riebel Oct. 25 from Freetown, he makes no reference to any sickness —
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Mr. Snyder's letter of the day before, says we are all well.
Mr. King Oct. 30, says "Mrs. Riebel has had a very bad cold amounting almost to Bronchitis. We had the Dr. from the hospital to see her. He seems to think her very delicate and says we ought not to allow her to go up till everything is in readiness for her."
So it was arranged that the four stay at Freetown for the present.
Mrs. King, Nov. 9, says — Mrs. Riebel is better of her cold but not quite out of it yet," and in another letter dated Nov — but no day — "Mrs. Riebel still has her cold but is better of it, I think."
Now I have given you every word that we have about it. We did not feel at all alarmed, thought it was just a cold, and I knew that now is the hot, dry season there, and at the house in Freetown she would be made very comfortable — and have the Dr. right there, so I felt that all was well — and we were entirely unprepared for such a message.
It is one of the things beyond our comprehension — yet the why, oh why, thrusts itself upon our minds. "What I do, ye know not now, but ye shall know hereafter."
It is not ours to understand — we must just let it all go — and in the dark — take hold of the Father's hand — and say — I know my
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Father leads, and somehow , thought I cannot understand, it must be all right.
You do not need any words of mine — you have long known the mercy sent — and that at such times as these, there is no help except in God stay your hearts upon Him, and let Him lead and comfort you.
Our tears mingle with yours — your sorrow is ours too. We remember so well the beautiful spirit in which she gave herself to the work of a missionary, and her beautiful letters in the November Evangel — the last words we have from her. What her death will do for Africa and for us, we may not know, but we have the promise of the Lord that it shall not be in vein.
The hearts of our board of trustees will be bowed down with you — and we pray that God will give you all needed grace and strength, that He will be your stay — "The eternal God is
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thy refuge and underneath are the Everlasting Arms."
We will write to Mrs. Harris — we know here so well — the rest of their family, the Riebels and all the friends we leave with you.
If you receive any word you will surely let us know and we will do the same.
In tenderest sympathy and love — I am Faithfully —
Mrs. B. F. Witt
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