s our Friend."
Another effort was made to speak, and at intervals we caught the
words, "Praise," "Glory," "My Father," "My Redeemer." These were the
last sounds we could hear; the full expression of triumph was lost in
the gentle murmurs of the river. There was yet another signal of happy
and exulting confidence. For sometime, she gazed intently upward, and
then around, with a look of delighted surprise; as if she "saw
scenes we could not see, or heard sounds we could not hear;" and
then gradually sunk into a state of unconsciousness. A few more hours
terminated her _mortal_ panting after immortality; and at twenty
minutes past eight, just as we commended her to God, without an effort
or a struggle, she breathed her ransomed spirit into the bosom of her
Lord. What was mortal remained with the mourners,--the spirit was with
God.
Thus, on the 4th of July, 1860, after the toils and struggles of life,
protracted to a period of seventy-eight years, and a few weeks; my
beloved, and venerated mother "fell asleep." She rests in the cemetery
about a mile from the city, by the side of her loved Eliza. Rich
and poor united to pay the last tribute of affection and esteem; and
mingled their tears at the place of her repose. A few weeks later,
on a Monday evening, in the New-Street Chapel, the Rev. Thomas
Nightingale, to a crowded audience, improved the event, not of her
death, but of her entrance into heaven, from the words, "And it
came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there
appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both
asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."
"HER CHILDREN ARISE UP AND CALL HER BLESSED."--Prov. xxxi. 28.
Shall we weep or repine at the thought she is gone?
Shall we mourn for the spirit at rest?
No! her children, though many, united as one
Now arise to acknowledge her blest.
Not the tongue of the world, or the praises that dwelt
On the lips of report are the test;
In the home, where the warmth of her presence was felt,
Must you ask if a mother was blest.
We arise! we arise in the name of the Lord,
Who gave us the good we possess'd;
With one heart, and one voice, we unite to record
Our thanks for the mother He bless'd.
Not a joy but was sweeter when she was in sight,
Not a grief but we hid in her breast;
And she seemed unto us as an Angel of Light:
So happy the circle she blest.
We
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