Creator

Delia Locke

Preview

image preview

Transcription

Page 138

1886. from a spoon. They have had a consultation of physicians and the conclusion is that she has "spinal meningitis" and there is no hope for her. No hope ! How like a death knew come those words. She has spasms very frequently now indeed, seems to be scarcely ever free from them. We pray for the mother - we know that "it is well with the child". (T.S.R. 59. 2 P.M. 85. S.S. 67.)

June 27. Sabbath. A postal comes to us today from Mr. Cooke saying that Winnie died at 6:35 this morning. They also say they will come home tomorrow with her to bury her here. So the little one is at rest. We ought not to mourn for her, for she has suffered long and severely, but now she has gone where there is no more sickness, nor pain, and where tears are wiped from all eyes. But O how the mother's heart will bleed. For if a mother ever enjoyed a babe, Ada enjoyed her little girl, from the very first moment she could call her her own. And Winnie was such a bright child, and knowing beyond her months - for we cannot say years. Now we think it was the undue enlargement of her brain that made her so knowing. Dr. Lane has called to inquire about it. We cannot tell when the funeral will take place till we see them. (T.S.R. 55. 2 P.M. 80. S.S. 67.)

June 28. Monday. Just twentyeight years ago this morn. (and it was Mond. morn. too) Bro. Elmer died. And today little Winnie came to us in her coffin to be buried. And strange to say, it is Weldon's birthday, he is two years old. They came by train this P.M. We had had a grave dug for her in the vineyard, by the front - yard fence, because we have not, in all these years arranged a family burial place. And little Winnie is the first to go. We have tired to arrange with Geo.Locke to have a burial lot by the side of his, but he asks $100 for thirty feet of ground, and it does not seem right for us to pay it. Papa says "when Horace comes" we will decide on a cemetery, so we will lay the little one here for the present. Ada thinks we had better bury her tonight, so we have sent word to the different relatives to come, and we will have a private burial, as

Page 139

1886. that is most is accordance with Ada's wishes. Dr. Lane also was sent for, but he came by another road, and so Willie missed him, and we had to wait for Willie. The funeral was set for five o'clock, so when the sun was low, in the cool of the summer's day, we laid sweet Winnie to rest in her little bed, near the fig tree and under the oak. Ada brought a clothes basket full of beautiful and fragrant flowers, donated by friends in Oakland, so her grave is covered with them. A bunch of buds and maiden - hair ferns, with some star while flowers, tied with a pink ribbon, was sent to be put in her hands, but we chose something else, and Ada wishes Ida to paint the flowers upon a plaque and the silver plate bearing her name and age "Winnie Cooke - aged 8 months and 5 days" will be fastened under it upon the plaque. Ada naturally enough is will-nigh exhausted, but she bears up as only those can who are sustained by grace divine. Have received a letter from Horace. (T.S.R. 53. 2 P.M. 83. S.S. 67.)

June 29. Tuesday. Mr. Pascoe went back to Redwood today, leaving Ida and the children to visit. We have our house full now and if I was will, I should enjoy it so much, but I have asthma badly, and occasionally fever. (T.S.R. 50. 2 P.M. 84. S.S. 67.)

June 30. Wednesday. Horace graduates today from the Medical Department of Harvard College, after a full course. I have written to him. He is the only child that I have to write to now all the rest are at home. When he comes, I have set my heart upon having a family re-union, which we have never had but once - that is to all sit down at once to eat together. (T.S.R. 50. 2 P.M. 84. S.S. 67.)

July 1. Thursday. Have received a letter from Horace - full of the hurry of preparation for graduation. Theresa accidentally stepped upon a pitchfock lying upon the ground. She want out bare footed in the morn. to see Eunice feed her white rabbits, and Eunice had left the pitch fork upon the ground. The time entered between the bones of the great toe and the next one and nearly came through upon the upper side of the foot quite wound. Now she will have to keep still for a few days. Dr. has been vomiting nearly all day. His stomach is very weak.

Date Original

January 1885

Dates Covered

1885-1891

Circa Date

circa 1885-1891

Source

Original dimensions: 21 x 34 cm.

Resource Identifier

Locke_Diary_1885-1891_Image_073.tif

Publisher

Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Rights Management

To view additional information on copyright and related rights of this item, such as to purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish them, click here to view the Holt-Atherton Special Collections policies.

Keywords

Delia Locke, diaries, women, diarist, California, Locke-Hammond Family Papers, Lockeford, CA, Dean Jewett Locke, rural life, rural California, 19th Century, church, temperance organizations, Mokelumne River Ladies' Sewing Circle, temperature recordings, journal

COinS