"Vic, read us the letters!"
Aunt Vic opened her satchel and took out a thick envelope and
her eyeglasses. "Speaking of the bad, I didn't know till I read
this letter from Pa that he ever knew that sorry Ward's daddy.
But he did. He preached the old man's funeral!"
"Mama, when're you-"
"Bandershanks, hon, you sit still and be quiet. Aunt Vic's
gonna read us a letter from our Alabama cousin and one your
Grandpa Dave wrote years ago-before you were even born. Vic, when
was Pa's letter dated?"
"He wrote it May 7, 1903, just seven weeks to the day before
he died. Let's see-Cuddin Lucy headed her letter: 'New Springs,
Alabama, November 6, 1918.'"
Aunt Vic flattened the pages and began to read.
My dear Cousins Victoria, Lovonia, and Nantelle,
It is my sad duty to inform you that my beloved father-your
uncle Elijah-passed to his reward some ten days ago. We children
have naturally been grief-stricken, but we thank God that He saw
fit to take Pa away without pain or a lingering illness.
He breathed his last, peacefully.
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