The subjoined is the answer to the reception of the account of their last hours on earth.
Utica N.Y., November 30, 1886.
Mr. Wm. Knowles:
My Dear Sir and Brother—You have laid us under great obligation by your lengthy and painstaking statement respecting your lamented parents. Seldom have we been affected so deeply as in the reading of it, which came so appropriately as to time and feeling, just as we were closing one of the sweetest meetings of our little "Gospel Band." Yes, truly, those dear, true friends of ours were as "little children" in "the Kingdom of Heaven."
Nothing would afford me greater satisfaction than to be able to add further by word or incident what you desire to gather up by way of a grateful memorial. As I stated in my letter to Mr. Young, my impressions were made by their uniform consistency of character, and not by any particular event or circumstance. Perhaps the enclosed letters will afford characteristic illustration of your father's habitual godliness or tenor of life. As to your mother, why, she was always "going about doing good," seemingly never tiring.
What death-bed scenes! If those faithful words of hers are ever forgotten, somebody will have a hard witness against them at last. Their memory is indeed blessed. We will all try to profit by their examples of godly fidelity, and faithful admonitions. With the sincerest sympathy, I am,
Gratefully yours,
George O. Phelps.