The first two paragraphs of William Meade’s letter to the three younger of his sisters right after the death of their mother:
My Dearest Sisters:--
Will you listen to the kindly admonitions of a brother who loves you dearly, and would see you happy eternally, and would persuade you so to live on earth that when you die, you may be exalted to Heaven? The removal of our dear mother from the scene of sickness and sorry to one of bliss and perfection, has made a great alteration in our family. The course and order of things which has subsisted for the last thirty years, must now be changed. “Old things must pass away, and all things become new.” Our mother, our guide, our counsellor, our example, our head, our centre around whom we moved, and who kept us in our orbits is now taken from among us, and we no longer hear the sweet accent of her voice, no longer behold the angelic smile of her countenance, and are no longer guided by her rule and immediate counsel. She has left us separately to follow by ourselves those good principles, which, under Heaven, she taught us and practiced before us, while living. “By them, she, though dead, yet speaketh.” We are all affected, much affected by this change, but none more so as my three single sisters. They are thrown into a new course of life--they are thrown out of their old employments--the tender nursing and watching over the best, the kindest of mothers. Hitherto they have been dutifully and continually engaged in all those filial attentions which her weakness called for, and in relieving her from those family cares which she could not sustain. These are no longer required. Praised be God! our mother has now no troubles, no pains, no sickness. She is a ministering angel, brightly hovering about the mercy-seat of God, chanting His praises, and going on errands of love--perhaps (exstatic thought) often despatched with good thoughts, kind monitions and sweet consolation to the hearts of her children. Yes, yes, “there is no pain among the blessed,” sorrow and sighing flee away from them, God with His own hand wipes away all tears from their eyes. And our mother is among them--certainly, most certainly.”