ut held
his Abilities, with his usefulness, in an unusual Degree to the very
last." Then follows the sermon, remarkable in its way as a eulogy. But
the Essay in Rhyme in Memory of his "Venerable Master," which follows
the sermon, is even more characteristic and remarkable. In it are some
couplets which are unique and interesting.

"Do but name _Cheever_, and the _Echo_ straight
Upon that name. _Good Latin_ will Repeat.

"And in our _School_, a Miracle is wrought:
For the _Dead Languages_ to _Life_ are brought.

"Who serv'd the _School_, the _Church_, did not forget,
But Thought and Prayed & often wept for it.

"How oft we saw him tread the _Milky Way_
Which to the Glorious _Throne of Mercy_ lay!

"Come from the _Mount_ he shone with ancient Grace,
Awful the _Splendor_ of his Aged Face.

"He _Liv'd_ and to vast age no Illness knew,
Till _Times_ Scythe waiting for him Rusty grew.

"He _Liv'd_ and _Wrought_; His Labours were Immense,
But ne'r _Declined_ to _Praeter-perfect Tense_."

He closes this eulogy with an epitaph in Latin.

Mr. Cheever's will, found in the Suffolk probate office, was offered by
his son Thomas and his daughter Susanna, August 26, 1708, a few days
after his death. He wrote it two years previous, when he was ninety-one
years old, a short time before his "dear wife," whom he mentions, died.
In it his estate is appraised at L837:19:6. One handles reverently this
old piece of yellow paper, perhaps ten by twelve inches in size, with
red lines, on which is written in a clear handwriting the last will of
this dear old man. He characteristically begins it thus:--

"In nomine Domini Amen, I Ezekiel Cheever of the Towne of Boston in the
County of Suffolk in New England, Schoolmaster, living through great
mercy in good health and understanding wonderfull in my age, do make and
ordain this as my last Will & Testament as Followeth: I give up my soule
to God my Father in Jesus Christ, my body to the earth to be buried in a
decent manner according to my desires in hope of a Blessed part in y'e
first resurrection & glorious kingdom of Christ on earth a thousand
years."

He then gives all his household goods "& of my plate y'e two-ear'd Cup,
my least tankard porringer a spoon," to his wife; "all my books saving
what Ezekiel may need & what godly books my wife may desire," to his son
Thomas; L10 to Mary Phillips; L20 to his grandchild, Ezekiel Russel; and
L