SUDDEN BEREAVEMENT by R. F. Andrews

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 23, 1861

SUDDEN BEREAVEMENT.

By R. F. Andrews

DEAR BRO. WHITE: It is with feelings of heart-felt sadness that I take up my pen to address you.

I have been afflicted of the Lord. His chastening hand has been upon me. My wife went to bed well as usual on Sunday night, 7th inst., and between two and three o'clock on Monday morning her eyes were closed in death.

Since warm weather we have occupied two beds. As we had two children, each took a child to take care of in the night. About the time of night above named, the oldest, my little boy, fell out of bed from me. I heard him fall. Just as he fell, my dear wife said, "Why Robert Andrews!"—the last words she ever spoke. I got up quickly and took up the child, and said, Mary don't be frightened, Solon is not hurt. I supposed when she got fully awake she would think no more of it. I took the child into bed again, and as I was drawing the clothes up over us, I heard her make a singular noise in her throat. I ran to her bed, supposing she had fainted. I got some water and threw on her face, and wet her throat. It did not seem to do her any good. I then took her in my arms and carried her out doors, and sprinkled more water on her face and throat. I did everything I could think of, but she was dead in three minutes from the time Solon fell out of bed. She thought the child was killed by the fall, and the sudden fright paralyzed her heart, and caused congestion on the brain. I had a physician examine her, and he said that was the cause.

Dear brother, I need your prayers, that the Lord will sustain me in this deep affliction. I believe the Lord means something by this heavy chastisement.

My dear Mary wrote the inclosed to sister White in the month of May last, and I wrote a letter to send to you then concerning my paper, and inclosed it; but on going to the office I found my papers there, and did not send it.

Mary asked me last week if I was going to send that note to sister White. I asked her if she wanted I should. She replied, Yes. It contained her feeling then toward you and sister White the same as when she wrote it.

Although she was taken away almost in an instant, without a moment's warning, yet it seems from her deportment for weeks in the past that she thought she had not long to stay.

My relatives and friends are very kind to me, my brethren also.

Dear brother, pray for me and my little orphan children. Much love to you and sister White.

Yours in affliction, R. F. ANDREWS.

NOTE.—We had formed an agreeable acquaintance with our afflicted brother Andrews, and with his companion, who has so suddenly been taken from him. When we visited Round Grove, Ills., on our way to Wawkon, Iowa, in December of 1856, sister Mary Stone Andrews gave her heart to the Lord to serve him. Below is the letter from sister A. referred to by Bro. Andrews.—ED.

DEAR SISTER WHITE: It is with feelings of deep love and affection toward you and yours that I this afternoon attempt to write a few lines to you. Although I feel almost too unworthy for you to notice this enough to read it, but I hope you will answer it, as you once promised me you would if I would write. But there has so long a time elapsed since that time, that I can hardly claim that promise. I always loved you; but I have of late been reading Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2, which has seemed to increase my affection for you.

When I see how much you and Bro. White have endured (and I suppose that I do not more than half realize it) for the sake of presenting the truth before me, and the world besides, I feel that I do not love you enough.

For about a year I have not enjoyed the love of God in my heart at all, still I could not yield myself up to the pride and fashions of this world. But for a few weeks past I have been trying to draw nigh to God, and I think he has helped me a little; but not as much as he is willing to if I still continue to come, and do not let the Lord get the advantage of me. I hope you will remember me at the throne of grace, for I do feel very weak and unworthy.

We were very much disappointed that you were not permitted to meet with us here. Please give my love to Bro. White, also to Bro. and sister Lockwood. I do not suppose sister L. ever thinks of me, but I often think of her. With much love, wishing I could see you. MARY L. ANDREWS.