Unknown Cousin to Anna (4 January 1903)

              Biltmore N.c. Jan 4th 1903 )
Dear Cousin Anna )
Your welcome letter just received 
& I hasten to reply, that you may know how sincerely 
I sympathize with you in your great sorrow & I can 
readidly understand how "life has held very little""
for you since such great losses came to you - followed as 
they were by misfortune and struggle - I had years, sad 
& bitter, of it all & as I look back upon those years 
I marvel at the strength & courage given to me - lonely 
thy "Lord doth temper the wind and shorn the lamb" or I should 
have been lost in the surging waves of sorrow, dirtness and 
bitterness - I remember once in prayer meeting when our 
Pastor called for passages of scripture, now my friends were 
moved to tears , & even sobs when I arose & said "Yea 
tho he slay me yet will I trust him"- He, the dear Father 
is your only refuge my dear, & I feel that you realize 
this more fully than I can present it & that you have 
been & will still be sustained & strengthened & in time 
can find joy in living - Let us hope for many years 
of an enriched life for you - For ten long years my 
struggles lasted - but after that the light broke tho. the 
clouds.  I had done what I could to prepare my 
children for their life works & my efforts have been 
abundantly blessed - My health has been restored;"
until now, at nearly seventy one years of age,  I am 
stronger & more vigorous that I was at fifty years 
of age - We have been down here in this delightful country 
two & a half years & in that time have not consulted 
a physician & Kate who was always subject to severe 
attacks of tonsilitis has had but one attack & has 
been in all other respects perfectly well & ready 
for her daily duties - She was called here as Prin 
of Mr Geo Vanderbilts' school in this his model village 
was permitted to bring with her one assistant altho it 
was that the school would not be large enough to warrant it -