This is a letter from Robert Murphy, brother of Paul Laurence Dunbar, to Matilda Dunbar.  It’s from Letters From Black America.

Dear Mother,

One year ago you lost a son and I a brother and on this day memories make our minds bleed afresh but we can comfort ourselves this way.  But a few more days and we too shall pass into that land of shadows.  Will was amiable, lovable, sympathetic, and kind and very few people knew him well enough to appreciate these qualities in him but to those who did, they realize that the world was bettered by him having lived in it…

Sorrowing on this day with you is

Your Loving Son

Rob