WCP6571

[1]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Dorset.

Nov[ember] 7th 1913

Excuse blots — my pen is running out. W.G.W.

My dear Mr Marchant,

We are all very grateful to you for your kind letters & offers of assistance. We will gladly avail ourselves of your help.

The funeral will be in the church & cemetry [sic] here on Monday at 2 o’clock[.] We should be very pleased if¹ you will come & [2] [p. 2] help us through. We shall be delighted to put you up for the night before and after if it suits you. Come on Sunday, or Saturday if you like.

We all wish the ceremony, as far as possible, to be a private family matter but as no doubt a number of people will come you could be of great assistance in attending to them. We only wish close personal friends to come to the house.

[3] [p. 3] Could you also be so very kind as to send a notice to the Times, say, & put in what is necessary. We want no flowers & every thing as simple as possible. If it is not too unusual perhaps you could omit the time & place of funeral. The other papers will no doubt copy from the "Times". Please make the notice as simple as possible.

My mother cannot attend the ceremony nor entertain people. [4] [p. 4] My father had been semi-conscious for the last few days & only spoke a few syllables since Tuesday morning. He passed a restless night last night in spite of a sleeping draught & at 9 o’clock ^{a m} the nurse called my sister & myself as she feared the end was near. He passed away without the slightest struggle ^{at 9.25am} — in fact we could not tell the exact moment. It could not of have been a more peaceful end — he just gradually drifted away.

Now the sun shines brightly outside — a welcome to him in lighter spheres!

My mother has taken it very well.

[5]² [p. 5] 7 Nov[ember] 1913 (Cont.) The newspaper men have already been here. The "Times" sent over a man who I am glad to say acted in a very considerate manner & got all necessary information from our doctor.

The "Daily News & Lender" man rang us up at 11.30 P.M. last night after we were all in bed & he [6] [p. 6] called on the doctor after midnight. He called here again this morning, before I had put up a bulletin & also tried to pump our gardener!

Rather too persistent! Don’t mention this to any one except privately. I shall be pleased to see one journalist if necessary but I cannot see any who come. They must [7] elect one of their number, to call if any thing further is required.

With very kind regards & many thanks | yours sincerely | W G Wallace [signature]