WCP3202

[1]

Leekhampton House

Cambridge

9 Feb[ruar].^y. 1901.

My dear Mr. Wallace

My dear Friend — your letter is a help — a help to bear the days — to do the duty and the work required of me. —

My dear husband¹ held you in such reverence and admiration that to feel your sympathising friendship is such a comfort to me. — When you honoured us with a visit some years ago — I felt for you on my own account — all that I know he had[2] told me I should feel for you.—

My husband was so absolutely convinced that he was not going to Death but to Life. — All through his suffering he was so patient his demeanour throughout was so superb, that the doctors & nurse said they had never seen anything like it. It was a wonderful example of what a living belief in immortality will do to help when the great hour comes. —

You know that all his life had been practically given up to what the world called an unpopular & doubtful quest — To this research he brought his great his magnificent mind — and convinced Himself and many others of a future Life— & the Society for Psychical Research has been fruitful beyond hope in assured result. —

When you join Him — may be you will work with him and Henry Sidgwick²—and [3] if you go before me — tell my beloved that I am only saved from despair by the hope of reunion and by reading over and over all that he has written and worked at with such perseverance, when it seemed often so disappointing — & so hard — at longest it can't be so very far off — before we all meet — Every day that passes — is one day nearer the meeting.

[3 words crossed out illeg.] My life will be given to the Society for Psychical Research — this he wished; that I should go on working as we did together. — Our Three Children — to guide & guard them & make them worthy of their Father — & the S. P. R. will be my meaning in Life — my mission.—

When he had no breath left handy, very near The end — He quoted to me from his poem 'The Renewal of Youth and asked me to read it often — and He said these three lines

[4] "Ah welcome then, the hour which bids Thee lie

"In anguish of Thy last infirmity! —

"Welcome the loss for Ease, the gasp for air,

Will you read the poem again — and in same volume S^t John the Baptist.

My husband's Book³ — will be published this year — it is finished.— he hoped to have worked up a few more ^{of the} chapters — but it was practically finished. — by Him. — It is a book for thinkers & men of Science — And very full & complete—

I hope you will care for it.—

It is difficult to face life — to think of tomorrow — and tomorrow without Him, and His glorious companionship — The sense of loneliness is so new — and so terrible — He helped me in everything — all the big & little things of Life.— You are his friend but let me always feel that you are still my friend too.—

Yours always | very sincerely | Eveleen Myers [signature]