MY PRAYERS FOR YOU
“Miss Clara Barton:
“Please give me some information, if you can, of Frank Pearson of the U. S. Str. Mackinaw, North Atlantic Squadron. He was from New York State. I have not heard from him since the last of March. They were then on the Appomattox River and I suppose he fell when Petersburg was captured. I wrote to him the first of April, and not getting any word from him I wrote to his Captain but never heard from him. I had given up all hopes of ever hearing what has happened my best friend. When I saw your name, that you were trying to find our lost friends, I took courage, but whether I will have any better luck to hear just a word about Poor Frank. Three years and a half on the Blockade. Oh! how fast the time was passing; only six months from April until he would have been once more free. I would have willingly died for him, but God has ordered it otherwise and I am not the only one that is mourning for a Dear Friend.
“If you can find anything about him please let me know as soon as you can conveniently. My prayers for you. Oh! how lonely! how sad I feel all alone in this cold world. ‘Would that I were resting too!’
“Pardon me and excuse the writing. My eyes are dim. Please answer soon. I am
“Your friend,
(Signed) “Mattie C. Beatty,
“Coal Bluff, Washington County, Penna.”