Jervis McEntee Diaries

Friday October 27, 1882

Jervis McEntee Diary Entry, October 27, 1882, from the Jervis McEntee papers, 1850-1905, in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

Friday, Oct 27, 1882 Sara and I went up by the 11. oclock train to attend Mrs. Giffords funeral. On the train we met Lily Wilkinson and Julias children. We went to the North House and dined and Mary sent for us to come to the house. The funeral services were very simple but very fervent and heartfelt and were conducted by her pastor Rev. Mr. Bruce the Baptist clergyman. He read the 103rd psalm which he said she had requested might be read at her funeral and was the only direction she gave concerning it. Then he read, most feelingly and with a voice trembling with emotion the last part of 31st Proverbs, Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies. He also read Addisons hymn "When all thy mercies of my God" and delivered a short and appropriate address. To my great surprise Mrs. Sanford Gifford and Richard Butler were there and it seems they wrote her when their mother was attacked and she came up and was there when she died. Mary told me briefly that she was feeling differently toward them and had expressed regret at the trouble they have had about Sanfords will. Mrs. Gifford was buried near Sanford and the little children from the orphan Asylum were there and threw flowers in her grave. We went back to the house and dined with them and came home by the evening train as did most of the friends from a distance. Poor old Mr. Gifford bore himself with great courage and composure. I wrote to Mary before I went to bed.

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