Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-06-24
A True Wife.

The Buffalo papers announce the death, on
the 2lst of May. of Mrs. MARIA WAIT, in the
3lst year of her age. This lady was the wife
of Benjamin Wait, one of the Canadian poiti-
cal convicts An obituary notice in the Bufia-
10 Commercial says ...
She was woman ofvery uncommon powers
of mind, amiabe in her department, ardent in
her affection, and of uhtirng energy and perse-
verence of character. Her cxeltions in behalf
of her husband and his fellow prisoners who
were under sentence of death for political Of
fences committed during the winter OF 1887
and IS, in Upper Canada, seemed almost su.
perhuman. After having procureda commuta-
ton Of the sentence from death to perpetual
banishment 10 Van Dieman's Land, she went
directly to London. where she continued ten
months her unwcaried exertions for their final
release.
She was most kindly received by the Queen
the heads of department and all the officers
ofthe Crown. Through my eXcrtlons, the free
dom OF the island was extended 10 them, and all
the liberty they could enjoy in the land of their
exilc--and but for their escape, she soon would
have procured their final pardon Her trials
and suIerings during this period of irccssant
toll and anxiety are most aiiectingy and gra.
phica!y described in her letters to a friend,
published in her husbands narratye-whch
will be read with deep interest by all.
Mrs w. was member of the Washington
street Baptist Church in this city, aud died i'll
the full triumps Of Christian tailh-rejoicing to
! the very last.-A few moments before she died,
she called her husband-her aged father-her
brothers, and her little ones to her, pressed them
TO her bosom-kssed them again and again
babe them most affectionate FAREWELL and
then commended them TO God in a prayer,
which, for sublmity and powers of thought and
expression, seemed unearthly, aud can never
be forgotten by those who heard it.
When her sight and speech had nearly tai
led her, she was asked by her pastor if the val
ley was dark; she instantly exclaimed, "not
cloud" Conscious that she had but moment
to live, she shook all firmly by the hand-gavc
her last counsel to some young friends who
were visiting at her houSe-then commended
all present once more 10 God in most solemn
and affecting prayer-u,tcred a clear and dis
,inct iarewcll--then yielded up without strug.
gle her happy spirit into the arms OF cverlast-
ing loyc-and rested from all her toll.
DE,Tuov GESrRAL WAsuiSGTox's SERVANT.
The Washington Capitol Of Tuesday says
--"General Washington's colorcd servant Cary,
was buried on Sunday last, from Grcenleai's
Poiut, and followed to the grave by large num-
ber OF blacks. lie was, we understand, at the
time Of his death, III years old, and was for a
number of years osler to Gen. Washington
whom he served at the passage OF the Delaware
and at the battles of Brandywinc and Trenton
Old Cary was knowaand respected by every
) citizen of this pace-hc loved the memory o
J his patriotic MASTER and as an humble mark Of
respect, on his birth day, and in fact every mil
! itary parade, wore an old shad-bellled uniform
coat, and ,hree-cornered Rat, with hug,
cockade, which he said Washington gave him
5 On these occasions ihe boys used to collect a
{ round him, but his venerable appearance disar
!, med them of all thoughts of mischief, and h,
e was allowed the honorable privilege ofhobblinl
, in the rear OF the military, under whose protec
4 ton he generally placed himself.