Bruté, Father Simon, Emmitsburg, Maryland, to William Seton, U.S. Navy, 1821 June 29

Bruté saw of the arrival of William's frigate in the Fayette this morning. He put off writing the whole day, thinking that William's heart would be reached only by his sister's letter. But now the last hour of the day, opening the bible his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Seton, kept for seven or eight years, her first bible of 1804, he returned to Josephine. Bruté noticed her notes on psalm 118 which she said everyday, though usually from the primer "Joe" keeps. She had places underlined for herself or William. At a verse of fear for sin she wrote "o my dear ones!" To psalm 118, verse 144, which says that if God gives on understanding he shall live, she adds "in Jesus." She lives in Him, for them us no more. To verse 165 which says that lovers of God's law have no stumbling block she adds that His will is all. It was her whole last prayer towards two o'clock that night of January 4 with Susanna and Sister Clarke, "o Joe, Joe herself." Just there followed Pius VII's prayer which she recited every day. It says that God's will is to be done and exalted above all forever. A marginal note, inserted here in Bruté's handwriting, says she began it herself and they took it up. Her last three or four months were a union to God's will. She was recollected in her peace, loved her communion which was her heaven and earth. Bruté concluded the marginal note with, the statement that he leaves it all to Joe. Mother Seton tells her beloved one, William from heaven to fulfill that will and come to her. Bruté asks William's forgiveness for the words of one who still loves him in her heart. There is a landscape drawing at the head of the letter. It consists of two houses, one dated June 29th, the other January 21, a bridge, and three graves. There is also a cliff and a ship dated June 21. Two samples of Elizabeth Seton's handwriting are pasted beneath this. They say "dear dear Eternity" and "resigned and heavenly minded is so beautiful." :: II-1-a A.L.S. 1p. royal 8vo., 2