PIERCE, FRANKLIN, President . Autograph letter signed ("Frank.Pierce") to William C. Clark of Gilford; Concord, N.H., 30 November 1843. 2 1/2 pages, 4to, 258 x 202 mm. (10 x 8 in.) [ with ] Autograph free frank ("Hon. Frank. Pierce Late U.S. S[enate]") on integral address leaf addressed in Pierce's hand, blue circular Concord datestamp and small "Free" handstamp [ with ] A lock of dark brown hair, probably that of Pierce's son Frank Robert (3) PIERCE'S MOVING REFLECTIONS ON MORTALITY, IN THE WAKE OF HIS SON'S DEATH A poignant letter written only six days after the death of his second son, Frank Robert at the age of four, from typhus. Pierce replies at great length to a friend's letter of condolence which was "soothing and grateful to me....in this dark hour of overpowering affliction. Under banishment like this, how trifling, oh how very trifling do most of the cares and purposes and plans of this world appear. We can hardly realize how it is that our hearts have been so engrossed in little matters of the day. We open our eyes as it were from a dream upon the realities, that are around & before us. We see 'passing away' written on all the things of this world. We feel that we are mere sojourners - probationers here and seem to estimate with an approximation to truth the great interest of eternity, as compared with those of time. I do earnestly desire to keep awake to these matters. And not to fall into that spell, where, as it were from necessity, we look through a false medium that places eternity so far off and gives to the things of time such vast Magnitude....The convictions of my judgment have long been strong and decided, but the bitter influence this has had upon my life is a sad illustration of the great truth 'with the heart man believeth into righteousness...In the midst of our deep sorrow I find inexpressible relief in the thought that "it is well with the child....He is as we firmly believe 'Where no blight falls on the beautiful rose of youth.' He was a bright, affectionate, manly boy - the pride and joy of his father's heart - the light and life of our home. We now feel and must long continue to feel his loss - his absence and we must weep....Mrs. Pierce has been quite feeble but is now, rather better...." Franklin and Jane Pierce had known bereavement before: their first child had died in infancy in 1836. And, tragically, their sole surviving son, Bennie, was killed in a train accident in 1853, a scant two months after Pierce's inauguration as President.
PIERCE, FRANKLIN, President . Autograph letter signed ("Frank.Pierce") to William C. Clark of Gilford; Concord, N.H., 30 November 1843. 2 1/2 pages, 4to, 258 x 202 mm. (10 x 8 in.) [ with ] Autograph free frank ("Hon. Frank. Pierce Late U.S. S[enate]") on integral address leaf addressed in Pierce's hand, blue circular Concord datestamp and small "Free" handstamp [ with ] A lock of dark brown hair, probably that of Pierce's son Frank Robert (3) PIERCE'S MOVING REFLECTIONS ON MORTALITY, IN THE WAKE OF HIS SON'S DEATH A poignant letter written only six days after the death of his second son, Frank Robert at the age of four, from typhus. Pierce replies at great length to a friend's letter of condolence which was "soothing and grateful to me....in this dark hour of overpowering affliction. Under banishment like this, how trifling, oh how very trifling do most of the cares and purposes and plans of this world appear. We can hardly realize how it is that our hearts have been so engrossed in little matters of the day. We open our eyes as it were from a dream upon the realities, that are around & before us. We see 'passing away' written on all the things of this world. We feel that we are mere sojourners - probationers here and seem to estimate with an approximation to truth the great interest of eternity, as compared with those of time. I do earnestly desire to keep awake to these matters. And not to fall into that spell, where, as it were from necessity, we look through a false medium that places eternity so far off and gives to the things of time such vast Magnitude....The convictions of my judgment have long been strong and decided, but the bitter influence this has had upon my life is a sad illustration of the great truth 'with the heart man believeth into righteousness...In the midst of our deep sorrow I find inexpressible relief in the thought that "it is well with the child....He is as we firmly believe 'Where no blight falls on the beautiful rose of youth.' He was a bright, affectionate, manly boy - the pride and joy of his father's heart - the light and life of our home. We now feel and must long continue to feel his loss - his absence and we must weep....Mrs. Pierce has been quite feeble but is now, rather better...." Franklin and Jane Pierce had known bereavement before: their first child had died in infancy in 1836. And, tragically, their sole surviving son, Bennie, was killed in a train accident in 1853, a scant two months after Pierce's inauguration as President.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
