1 5 Warrick Terrace 7 th May 1916 My dear friend I scarcely dare intrude on your
sacred sorrow. Still I feel
I must send you a message.
From the depths of my heart
I feel for you and with you
in this awful trial. Since
I heard the terrible news
you & he have been constantly
in my thoughts and prayers.
I keep picturing you in
anguish, but strange to
say I cannot think of him
in pain or suffering. His
face comes before me smiling. 2 and there is a look of glad triumph
in his eyes. I feel sure he is
already in Heaven. He lived
a noble life and died a splen
-did death. Coming almost
straight from the altar with
his Eucharistic Lord in his
heart he laid down his
gallant life for his brethren.
Staring the danger into which
he had not led them, making
his supreme sacrifice for
the cause he served, though
he would have chosen a
different way of serving it
if the choice had been left to him.
With a beloved wife and children,
and a very happy home, every
-thing to make life sweet, he
sacrificed all at the bidding of what
he believed to be his call. 3 Duty and honour and the country for
which he died will never forget this. His
name will be held in love and veneration
forever. The day may come when
this thought may bring some solace
to your stricken soul. Now I feel that
you can feel nothing but anguish and
Isolation. May God comfort you
He alone can, and may your children
grow up to be your pride and joy.,
those already around you and the little
one who is coming. God bless you & them 4 Your oldest boy Richard is
now The O' Rahilly. When he
grows up he will be proud
of being his father's son
and will I am sure do credit
to his name. Remember your
husband is not dead in one
sense. He lives in his children
and in the hearts of his
country's people, and believe
in another glorious life where
I trust you will one day
be reunited to him. I do not expect a reply to this,
but hope to see you later I
called already at your house
but found it shut up. I am
trying to find out where you
are & how you are. I fear you
must be ill in body as well as
broken hearted - Believe me Always Your friend N. de Buitleir. beau t'amour la fusillé