POIGNANT LIFE TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1933, Page 14

POIGNANT LIFE TRAGEDY

MOTHER WHO LOST HAPPINESS.

STORY OF LOVE AND SORROW. Croydon has just seen the close of a real life tragedy-more poignant than anything from the pens of the great playwrights. It is the story of Mrs. Hopper. She was buried at the church of St. John the Evangelist, Croydon, on March 18. Mrs. Hopper was an attractive brunette, aged 28, when she died. When she was 20 she first met her husband. They fell deeply in love. After a short period they were married. Although this was a fulfilment of their, dreams, arid they were as happy as husband and wife could possibly be, there was one thing they still yearned for—a child. And after two happy years they had a child —a beautiful baby girl. The daughter grew up—became more beautiful every day. When she was five she fell ill. Despite the best treatment her mother and father could get she became weaker. Eventually she died. Mr. and Mrs. Hopper were heart-broken and the latter became ill. 'fee doctor advised a holiday in different surroundings. Mrs. Hopper was sent to Eastbourne. She was there in the best weeks of last summer. One day holidaymakers walking round the foot of Beachy Head found her lying there, terribly injured, but alive. She had fallen from the top of the cliff. She was rushed to hospital. There was a chance of saving her life. Gradually she recovered. “My' daughter, my daughter,” was all she could say in her delirium. She was released from hospital—a cripple. Mrs. Hopper besought her husband to find a doctor who could cure her. She was offered the choice of one of three operations. Two were not severe, but would leave her still a cripple. The other was a dangerous operation in which death’s odds were high. If it succeeded she would be cured. Mrs. Hopper’s love for her husband was boundless. With all her heart she wished to be as when she first met him. She chose the dangerous operation and it was performed. She never recovered. She was buried near her daughter’s grave.