All the talk of heavenly inheritance, in the last episode's letter - that of Dudley S. Warner in the late 19th century - detonated a vision for my husband Rodney, a Warner descendant, and me. When my better half was recently asked what he inherited - how nosey - he answered with a great big smile, "Cecily." The cat is out of the bag. If you know Rodney, you know he is a man of few words. And quick on his feet. While his response got the gang giggling, he was dead on. Strong and succinct, Rodney is self-made, and a saint. Not a legatee. Ne'er inheriting a dime, all he got was me.
The Warners taught a valuable lesson with regard to inheritance. When we consider what Dudley Warner wrote about his brother Wilbur Pipking "Pip" Warner in 1887, as provided by Dr. E. Russ Williams, Jr., in his book "Kinsmen All Descendants of Wettenhall Warner and Related Families," my sole source for this series of columns, it is clear that what matters is not horses or cattle or pewter, iron, and brass. I even saw mention of a brass basting ladle - valuable and typical of an inheritance back in that day - in a will in Dr. Williams's materials. It's our heavenly inheritance, our salvation, that counts.
And for that lesson, I turn to the poignant letter (edited copy) which Pip's older brother Daniel Cornelius Warner (1833 - 1907) wrote in early 1907 just before his leave-taking to Leta, his daughter who was a resident of Varnado where she taught school. From Section II of Dr. E. Russ Williams's book, the beautiful treasure follows verbatim:
"Warnerton, La., Mar. 8, 1907
Dear Leta- - -I . . . have been poorly with kidney trouble - - -under doctor's care - -4 or 5 weeks. His medicine did me but little good - - - talked like he could not cure me, but could patch me up a little. So you may know that your pa will soon be gone to his long home. You have no mother now. Death has robbed you of your only earthly treasure . . . She bade farewell to us all and fell sweetly and happily to sleep in Jesus, March 11, 1895. The climax in your life of sorrow came on that eventful day when you said fare-well . . . to your precious mother, the best earthly friend, and was carried from my sight forever. The sun does not appear to shine so brightly nor the flowers smell so sweetly as when your ma was living. . . All the world seems so dark and dreary. - - - The vacant rocker, the clothes she wore; in fact every piece of furniture in the house brings her so forcibly to mind. I cannot get away from it all. - - - One day while I was sick at home I had a vision, and saw your ma holding a child on her lap. I reckon it was Densmore [who died when abt. 6 mts. of age]. She was looking at me and smiling. I imagine your precious ma is often with us in spirit. While she was crossing over the cold stream of Jordan of death she clasped my hand and I could feel her poor heart fluttering as her precious soul was leaving her body. But never more in this life will I feel her loving touch. But in heaven I will again grasp her lovely hand. . . . When poor little Het[tie] kissed her goodbye, oh, that was a heart rending scene . . . What good is religion if it does not comfort us in the hours of death ? . . . It has been 12 years next Mon[th] since she left us and was carried by bright angels to Heaven. - - I am glad the time is coming when I can enter the rest. What joy it is to know the turmoil and worry of life will soon be over. The grave has no terror for me. I know I will be laid by my precious, youthful companion. I have always thought of Heaven as my eternal home. And I have trying to live a Christian life and to serve God to the best of my ability. And I feel like Jesus will be with me when the end comes and will guide me safely home. - - - -A thousand years is as one day in Heaven. Eternity in Heaven with your loving ma and little brother Densmore and your other loved ones! . . . Why should we go through life dreading the grave? The grave is the door through we which we enter heaven. . . . Why should I fear when I know the Savior will lead me through the dark valley out into the glorious life of God's presence. Oh! There is bright sunshine in my soul today for I will soon be at home; safe in the arms of Jesus, where the storms of life cannot touch. Where I can sit with your ma and little Densmore and wait and watch for the approach of my dear precious children who have all been so kind to me. Oh! Children try to meet me in heaven.
Your old pa."
Now, that is a veritable inheritance. We should all be so lucky.
Concluding with Thomas Coalter Warner, with wife Martha Seal, he had Hetty Martha Ann Warner (1851-1929), known as Kitty. She wed James Madison Shelton, and they resided in Texas. Thomas Coalter and Martha Seal Warner's second child Tabitha Ludie Silvia Warner was born in 1852 and died young.
Happy Thanksgiving! Perhaps we will see you at the A & M game - Geaux Tigers!
