musket prologue: chapter 4,
#5 of musket
this is a major part in the story of musket
susan
townsfolk, seamstress, wisconsin
october 6th, 1862
dear joshua,
i have some grave news to tell you, last week your father had fallen gravely ill. it would take all of his strength to sit up only to have to be carried like a pup just to sit. now, just yesterday, he died. he said the one thing he wanted was to see you at least one more time. he also told me to tell you these words that he wrote on the day he died.
'son, this is my last will and testament. i leave all of my personal belongings to you and you only. all i ask is that you please don't be mad at me. if it would have helped, i would have punched any civilian right in the jaw for only referring you as some relation to me and nothing else. one punch. right in the jaw. however, you are not alone in this. it has come to my attention that you have been suffering. i don't want you to feel like you are weak or sick in the mind. there are some very good, strong minded men i've known that has come back from the old war nothing more than a broken mess. all i am asking is for you to take care of saviour, my horse and to stay strong. you are the only one left in our family that can carry our family on. one other thing, son, give them he-'
he was never able to finish the letter because he died before he could. besides his horse, he left you his bible, a notebook, some money, and his entire blacksmith's tools. your mother is not taking it well, she was the one to discover him and throughout all the house we heard nothing but her wails. not soon after, she got her horse, and had ridden off into the woods. we are still waiting for her to return.
love,
susan