Helen Hunt Jackson 4-1-4 transcription
Helen Hunt Jackson Papers, Part 4, Ms 0348, Box 1, Folder 4, 4 letters from HHJ to her husband William S. Jackson
Transcribed by Nancy Knipe, 2002
Sleeve 1
1. [Note dates below]
Dearest--
I want your oldest little girl to have this ring.-- Her mother will not object I am sure. -- Perhaps she would even be willing that you should name her Margaret & call her Peggy which is one of the nicknames for Margaret!---
Your loving Peggy--
The 9th to June--1885--
--Many days I fear before I am to be released -- but the dear ring will not stay on, any longer.--
2. July 28--
Dearest Will--
Something has just suddenly occurred to me -- It is by no means impossible that you may die , without being married -- without having the happy new home life which I so anticipate for you -- I hope not -- I pray not! -- I want to look down & see that sweet little home of us [sic] merry with children -- and your face beaming as it always does when you lift a child in your arms.
But it may be otherwise ordered - you may be destined to follow me soon - and in that case, dear Will, all my books, pictures, china, silver, glass, & interesting articles from different countries ought to go to my nieces -- & not be sold at auction in Colorado Springs, with the rest of your "effects."
--Will you not make a will, as soon as I am dead, dear love & fix this all right? Don't let your evil genius of procrastination lead you to put it off - no man knows what a day may bring forth - and it is not fair to let the lovely things which I have worked so hard to get together, be scattered among strangers.-
--Of course while you live I want you to have them-- though I sometimes think that perhaps you will not feel like staying on in that house at all -you will prefer to dismantle it altogether and begin your new life somewhere else. I know I couldn't live in it a day if you were gone.- But men are not like women about such things.-- It may be all the dearer to you because my hand arranged it & fitted it up.-
But please make sure that all the things go to Helen & her sisters in case of your death!
Lovingly -- Peggy
Sleeve 2
Dearest-
If it is not too much trouble, I would like very much to be buried up on Cheyenne Mt.-- You know I told you this once before - of course if you think it too much trouble, let it go -- & bury me anywhere where it is most convenient - but if I am near enough to this earth to know anything about it, it will give me pleasure to see this poor old body of mine laid in the spot I love best of the whole world.-
The place I would choose of all others is behind the big rock where we used to camp in the winter, in the olden days - near where the blacksmith's tent was. That will be out of sight of the road - "in shadows of a great rock in a weary day." -
Put a rough stone wall and the grave - nature will take care of the rest! - on the grave I would like a plain slab of our red granite rock rough hewn & only this inscription on it
Helen,
Wife of Wm. S. Jackson
EMIGRAVIT
__________________________________
With the date of my death below. Not another word.
Emigravit is a Latin word, meaning he (or she) emigrated.
I saw it on an old tomb in Rome.-- The sonnet "Emigravit" at end of "Mercy Philbricks Choice,"
was written from that old tomb.
--Don't carry me up in a hearse, dear-in a wagon covered with Kinnikinnick -- & put the Kinnikinnick all over me in the grave.
And don't have a funeral! I'd like Mr. Gregg to go up with you & just two or three of our special friends -- & Mr. Gregg might read the "Last Words" out of my little book of verses if you liked--& just bid me goodbye & leave me there-- & sometimes in the summers you would lay some wild flowers on the slab--.
This is what I would like my darling - but if it seems too much to you, or is repugnant to you, don't do it: -- no one will know I have asked you -- : but I hope you will feel you can do it -- I don't want to lie in that parched thirsty cemetery at the Springs -- & by the time your turn comes to be buried, there will be others to lie by your side - others whose right it will be. -- Let your Peggy lie alone on her mountain.-
Dear one, I wish I knew how you felt about my being near you. After I am dead - if you will wish it - or fear it - If there is any such possibility, I shall come -- & I shall long to make you know I am by --
-----If you feel fear or revulsion I suppose I shall perceive it & go away. I hope you will not.-
-----Dear I want to emphasize my wish about not having a funeral -
-----Keep it as secret as possible when you are going to take me up there - I'd almost like it better to have no one go but you, & the necessary men to do the work - if that would do. -
But there are a few friends who would feel hurt perhaps:-- if you ask any one - remember Miss Hatty & Alice & Mrs. Hamp & Mrs. Hatch, the four people who were kind to me in my long confinement at home last year - they were really kind - I shall never forget it.-
Your Peggy
June 10, 1885
[Penciled note at end in WSJ?'s handwriting]
She told me in talking of the matter of burial. If difficulty was found in getting a grave at place sugested [sic] then being on some point in the mountains among the timber
Sleeve 3
Selections of Scripture
read at the funeral of
Helen Hunt Jackson
Oct. 31 - 1885
Ps 12:1 Help Lord for the godly ceaseth: for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
Ps 24:3 Who Shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who Shall Stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lifted up his Soul unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully. He Shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his Salvation.
Job 29:12-17, 21 She delivered the poor that cried and the fatherless and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon her : and She caused the widow's heart to sing for joy : She put on righteousness and it clothed her : her judgement was as a robe and a diadem. She was as a mother to the poor and the cause which she knew not she Searched out. And she broke the jaws of the wicked & plucked the Spoil out of his teeth. Unto her men gave ear and waited & kept Silence at her counsel.
Prov 31:26, 20, 31 [unknown notation after 26] For she opened her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue was the law of kindness ; she stretched out her hand to the poor yea she reached forth her hands to the needy. Give [?] her of the fruit of her hands and let her own worth praise her in the gates.
Wisdom 3:15 [from the Book of the Apocrypha] For glorious is the fruit of good labors; and the root of wisdom shall never fall away
Wisdom 4:1 The memorial of wisdom is immortal because it is known with God and with men. When it is present men take example at it; and when it is gone they desire it: it weareth a crown & triumpheth for ever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.
Acts 17:26 God hath made of one blood all nations of men and God hath Showed us that we should not call any man common or unclean.
Ecclesiastic 48:1 She Stood up as fire and her word burned like a lamp
Amos V [?]:8, 9 She Sought him that maketh the Seven Stars & orion and turneth the Shadow of death into the morning that Strengtheneth the Spoiled against the Strong, the Lord is his name.
Gal [Galatians] 6:2 She bore the burdens of others & so fulfilled her law of Christ.
Matt 25: [printed Bible clippings pasted in for verses: 31-40
31: When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34: Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35: For years I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37: Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38: When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39: Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the Sin which doth so easily beset us & let us now run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author & finisher of our faith.
Sleeve 4
[Letterhead stationery from El Paso County Bank]
W.S. Jackson, Cashier J.H. Barlow, Asst. Cashier
El Paso County Bank
W.S. Jackson
C.H. White Colorado Springs, Colo. June 2d 1892
J.H. Barlow
W.R. Pierce Esq
Denver Colorado My Dear Sir:
I hereby order of you Sarcophagus or Grave Stones to be placed on the Grave of Helen Jackson in cemetery at Colorado Springs called, Evergreen Cemetery on the following conditions -- that you will furnish one Granite Base of Gunnison Granite 6ft 6 in. long 2 ft 6 in wide & 1 foot high, very finely hammer Dressed, notless [sic] than no 10 Hammer dressed -- One top piece of very best Quincy Granite free from iron & other imperfections 6 ft long 2 ft wide 14 inches high in center with oval top or face -- the top piece to be all perfectly polished on five sides & the base of the top piece & top of the Base piece are to be carefully & perfectly fitted together to be set on the Grave on a suitable foundation to prevent settling & on not less than flagging 2 ft x 4 ft x from 2 1/2 x 3 inches thick at each end of Base the stones to be perfect in every particular & the work to be of the best of its kind. The lettering to be as follows cut on the top of the polished piece & to be spaced as is acceptable to me as to size & spacing
Helen
Wife of Wm S. Jackson
Died Aug 12th 1885 [5 is written over what appears to be 4]
& on the opposite end of the oval top the word Emigravit.
The work to be perfect in every particular including setting & all to be done to my satisfaction & to be guaranteed as free from iron stains & from harmful settling & for which I am to pay when work is completed to my satisfaction three hundred & twenty five Dollars [&?] to leave on deposit with the El Paso Co Bank $325 as a guarantee of your faithful & perfect performance of the work which you hereby undertake to do. Yours Truly,
Wm S. Jackson
I accept the foregoing order & am bound by all of its conditions binding myself to give Wm S. Jackson satisfaction for this work in every particular. W.R. Pierce
Sleeve 5
[one sheet with drawing of sarcophagus on one side; the other side is an order form ]
Drawing of sarcophagus with dimensions and engraving for top:
Base 6.6 x 2.6
Top 6.0 x 2.0 1.2 high
Top with following inscription:
Helen
Wife of
Wm S Jackson
died
Aug 12th 1884 [sic]
EMIGRAVIT (inscribed at foot_
340$ written below drawing
Blank printed order form with penciled note at bottom, right corner, written in opposite direction from print at top of form:
GENERAL AGENTS
FOR THE
NEW ENGLAND GRANITE WORKS,
OF HARTFORD, CONN.
______________________
OFFICE OF
GREENLEE & CO.
DEALERS IN ALL KINDS OF
Monumental Work in Marble and Granite.
1224 LAWRENCE STREET
Denver, Colo.,__________________________189
[Penciled note at bottom:] Ordered
Through EBrooks
Quincy & [Bowe?]
the same price
Westerly [$?] 100
of the New England Granite
Works of Hartford [xx86?]
The North Westerly
Helen Hunt Jackson
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