Tear-Jerker Letter Sent To Jessie Following The Death Of Her Sibling
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
It’s a Wagner Week! Here’s an edited-for-space tearjerker to Jessie about the death of her older brother John. The letter is from his ex-best friend. The writer mentions John’s mysterious second wife, Evelyn, and their sons John Henry and Mabry.
Water Valley,
August 3, 1929Dearest Jessie,
Ever since the passing away of poor dear John, I have felt like writing to you but I feel always a little hesitant about intruding upon the privacy of one’s grief – knowing that you have so many that are nearer than I, kept me from writing. But, since I am told that you are not well, I want to say a few things to you.
I’d rather think that there are very few people who know better than us how tenderly John loved you. Having been at one time very close in confidence with John, I can say that his love, his reverence, his devotion, his unswerving fidelity to you was unusual, very beautiful. Always in the years gone by when Evelyn would be off on trips, John would be with us. We would all be sitting on the porch and speaking of different people and invariably he would speak so feelingly of you, “Well, one thing everybody knows — whatever Jessie says is the whole truth. She will not falsify to please anybody.” What a beautiful tribute from John to you!
I feel hurt that I didn’t get to talk to him before it was too late, but Evelyn said I always made him nervous by saying things that seemed like I wanted to make him forget poor little John Henry. But such was not my heart’s intentions. I only wanted John to live and I yet believe he would have been here yet if he had been made to go to John Hopkins or Mayo’s and had been forced to obey instructions. I have always loved John and while he was not for a long time quite the same to me, we knew that he loved us, and that it was his poor health or some sinister influence that caused indifference on his part. He was our dearest friend.
Evelyn must be a very wonderful woman. She has borne John’s death so heroically — but I had a short letter from her since she went to Knoxville that said that she became very nervous and somewhat unstrung. I think making the trip from Memphis to Knoxville alone under the circumstances was enough to almost kill her.
Poor Mabry looks terribly. He has been under such strain on account of John’s condition and the death of dear John Henry. Mabry does smoke too many cigarettes. I’ve been told that it’s Maybry’s intention to leave Water Valley and go West. I hope not, but of course, young people with ambition naturally want to make an effort in a place where there are more possibilities than here.
Jessie, take care of yourself. It seems that I never do anything in a natural way to prove that I love you but I do love you. Anyway, I have such a cold. My eyes are watering so that I really can’t hardly see. I’m sure you will understand.
Fondly,
Eugenia Romberger
