Letter from Mrs Lila M Colbert

Letter from Mrs Lila M Colbert

95, Haddington Road

8^th August 1916

My dear Father Eugene

I was so sorry it was so late last evening that I could not see you. I started out quite early but I did not anticipate meeting an old friend with whom I chatted for sometime, forgetting it was growing late. I did not arrive at Mount Argus until 9 o’clock. I left the copies of letters for you.

May and myself were delighted with the little souvenirs and thank you very much indeed for them.

With best wishes,

I remain,

Yours v sincerely,

Lila M Colbert

Letter from Lila M Colbert to Fr Eugene

Copies of Conn Colbert’s letters – 7/5/1916 – he was executed next morning.

Captain Con Colbert

My dear Jim,

Don’t fret when you see this. Believe me I have a good chance of dying well, which may God grant. I’ll pray for you all, so also pray for me.

Goodbye, I am

Your loving brother,

Conn.

My dear Nora,

Just a line to say goodbye to you and yours and to ask you to say a prayer for my soul. Don’t blame me, perhaps God’s way of saving my soul. Goodbye and God bless you and yours.

I am, your loving brother,

Conn.

My dear Gretta,

Forgive the writer for his want of negligence and want of affection, for now he’ll not see you again. Say a prayer for his soul, which he hopes will soon see Heaven, where he’ll see those who are gone before and where he’ll be able to pray for you.

Don’t fret, for with God’s help I’ll die in His Grace.

With much love, I am, your loving brother,

Conn.

My dear Mack,

Just a line to say goodbye and to ask you to pray for me. God has given me the grace to know when I am to die. May he grant I die well.

Goodbye,

I am your loving brother,

Conn.

My dear Lila,

I did not like to call you to this gaol to see me before I left this world, because I felt it would grieve us both too much, so I am just dropping you a line to say goodbye to you and all my friends, and to ask you and them to say a prayer for my soul.

Perhaps I would never get the chance of knowing when I was to die again, and so I’ll try and die well. Pray for me, ask Father Divine and Father Healy and Father O’Brien to say a Mass for me, also any priests you know.

May God help us – me to die well – you to bear your sorrow.

I am your loving brother,

Conn

I send you prayer book as token. Write to Nan, Jack and Willie and ask them to pray for me.