Greenwich Dec. 6th 1821



My dear Cousin,

Pardon me my dear Cousin, for my not fulfilling my
engagement, at the time appointed, we were daily looking for the
long expected event which has at length taken place, our dear dear
Sister closed her eyes forever on the light of this world -- Nov. 26th
her sufferings tho great where borne with the greatest patience of her mind seemed stayed where it should be, she seemed to have no concern for any
thing here, even for her children, I was with her two weeks and Sally
one, it was trying to see her sufferings and witness her last conflict
which was not thought to be hard, but hard it must be to struggle
with our last enemy, but we are not left without comfort, for we have
a strong hope that her sufferings there terminated, and if so can we
wish her back? It would be selfishness in us.. I hope my dear Cousin we
may all meet Death with that composure that she did.
Miss Stillson died a week before Sister, after a confinement
of about two months in a very happy frame of mind, during her
sickness Satan was permitted to buffet her with doubts and fears until
the Sunday before her death, she said it was the happiest Sabbath she
had ever spent, that she enjoyed the sweet smiles of her Saviours, and
continued so until she died. I cannot conceive a more enviable
situation, who would exchange it for any situation or wish. Mr. Petes
appeared to feel his loss very sensibly, but to look to the right source

Comment: Susan's sister, Elizabeth Knapp Titus died. See See Family Tree. Miss Stillson's death at the age 24 upset many of her students and led to the creation of a benevolent society in her honor. See Bush-Holley Historic Site, Mead and Ferris Families, second paragraph beginning, "Edward Mead was a direct descendent."