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can call & see father. Stop in to see Kress & find Seymour has just painted a head of one of his stenographers from the bank. Ralph speaks of father. knew the minute I came in. Lily I have a cup of coffee with R [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[\strikethrough]] in [[Merrycome?]] and then we start home in the rain. Annie says Mother is asleep and that Nan said father was a little easier when she left in the evening. Sunday 23 June cold day I am awakened by mother who says "I want you to telephone to see how papa is." I hurriedly get up and get on my clothes. Find Gertie is at church and her servant says father died early this morning. Again I have to go upstairs to tell mother, this time the last, the final word. But I don't say the word I can simply go over to her where she stands in the kitchen & turns around to receive the news and put my hands on her shoulders, and help her to her chair. Then she cries again very quietly as she says, "Oh papa, I never thought I'd [[strikethrough]] live [[\strikethrough]] live to see this." Gertie & Nan come over later and [[strikethrough]]all [[?]] [[\strikethrough]] in [[?]] offer to prepare notice for "Courant" and get ready to photograph Mrs Belle Lane brings [[end page]] [[start page]] 21 - from her home, Aunt Lizzie and Charlie come over to see Mother after stopping at Smiths meet Eaton who offers to take my note up to Sherman at [[strikethrough]] Cor [[\strikethrough]] Courant office. Eaton say he's going to New York Tuesday to be fitted out for service with the army in France in YMCA. Monday 24 June. Up early busy in the house arranging for fathers last return home. Tuesday 25 June. Father's funeral. The Grand Army sends six sons veterans to act as bearers. The flag covers the oak casket and John Cooney in his army uniform walks with the family. At the church the solemn requiem high mass is beautiful. Father Rogers as celebrant Father Curran assisting with another curate and Father. McLaughlin and Father McIlhenny sitting in chancel. Lilys brother Michael who has just been drafted for the army sings an Ave Maria at the [[?]] end The music seems generally good. Father Rogers & his assistants look very fine in their black & white embroidered vestments. I ride with mother & Erin & Aunt Lizzie in the first carriage and mother bears up well. At the grave as the casket lowers & Father Curran reads the service the bugle sounds from the distance played by Fred Smith who also acted as a bearer. Mother & I & Erin arrive home first [[strikethrough]] in [[\strikethrough]] Find that the automobile cortege much reduces the time which the long distance to Mt St Benedicts used to impose upon the horse carriages. The [[end page]]
