July 10th
Isabel
half past two in the morning

Friend Helen

I take my pen to write you a few sad lines in regard to Netties death. it is so sad. Charlie & I are here tonight they sent for us we are setting up. Mrs Williams & Mrs Robison are here too. Late asked me to write to you as soon as I went home. he said he did not feel as if he could write- I know you are anxious to hear more than the telegram that is why I am impressing the present time in writing.

Your Pa Late & Les were harvesting at Mr. Will Sellars & Nettie went there to spend the day & Nona went to help the Sellars. the storms came in the afternoon. the women were in the cellar. Nettie got up & said she guessed the storm was about over. she would look out & see. just as she got to cellar door the lightning struck the house at chimney it ran down the stove & through the floor & Nettie was standing right under the stove. the lightning struck her killing her instantly. she had Blanche in her arms. she was not hurt. And only her hair is singed some. Nona was standing close by & they thought for some time she was dead for they laid them both out in the rain. Nona come too. they think she will get over it but she is not able to sit up any yet.

Late received your telegram this evening. it was a sad disappointment to him & your Pa that you could not come. they are all nearly distracted it was so unexpected they had hard work to keep you Pa alive. they just had to work with him & do everything they could think of to keep him alive. it just seems like he is heart broken. I feel so sorry for him & all the rest of you have my deepest sympathy for Nettie seemed almost like a sister to me. you knew Dick went to Mo last week. They got a dispatch from him today that he would be home Wednesday on morn train.

Isabel Cemetery

they expect to have services at the school house Wednesday at two-oclock. have the body packed in ice in order to keep it. she has a sweet smile on face. it is so hard to give her up. but oh Helen what a consolation it is to know that she was ready when the Master came. she had not put off her preparation until a dying hour, how true it is we know not in what hour the son of man cometh. Late said to me -- Mollie we are all broke up any of the rest of us could be spared better than Nettie. she was the head of two families. I told him her work was completed & thers wasnt. Little Mable has called Late to her side different times & would ask where am I going to live now. Nettie was expecting to have a nice visit with you this fall. perhaps some one has written to you but for fear they would put it off until after the burial. I send these few lines for I know what suspense you would be in.

your sympathising friend
Mollie Webster, Cunningham

excuse all mistakes as this writen in a hury