The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-07-03
Died.

10 this village, on Friday the 21st inst,
Mrs. HANNAH WAINWRIGHT, wife Of Edward
Wainwright, and daughter of the late Doct.
John Edison and Susanna Edison, of West
Randolph, VT. in the Bath year of her age.
1t is due to the virtuous dead to be remem-
bered by the living. and the death of this am
liable and excellent lady calls for a passing
tribute from the hand of friendship. In the
prime of life, in the midst of usefulness, sur
rounded by respectable connections, and in
the possession of whatever can render life de-
sirable. She has been snatched away fiom
the society and sphere which her virtues
adorned by an unexpected summons. The
removal of the virtuous and useful from the
world Mt period when it seems TO us they
have not lived half their days, nor performed
half their duty, nor given to the world the
complete example of their virtue, appears TO
our timid vision an anomaly in the plan of
Providence; yet we may be sure that such
dispensations are part CT that system Of ar
engagements by which wise and benignant
God is working ont the highest happiness to
his creations; and even in this world, the ap
parent i'll is not unmingled with benefit; for
though by such untimely removals some of
the purposes of life may be frustrated yet
lesson is taught the living not 10 be forgotten,
and the early dead speak from the grave with
emphasis and pathos which sinks deep into
the soul.
The subject OF this sketch had, during her
short residence in this community, won to
herself the esteem and love Of numerous
circle of friends, whom her un;inely depart
ure has filed with no common sorrow. Her
truth, her candor, her sweetness of manners
and temper, gave her ahold upon the hearts
of all who knew her, and fhe constant digni-
/ ty and propriety with which those amiable
qualities were blended, invariably preserved
| their esteem. But it was in the calm and
| quiet of domestic life, the peculiar resting
! place of the virtues of woman, that the excel
| lence of her character was most fully evinced.
Free from vanity and ambition ofdistinction,
devoted to the duties of wife and mother,
and pricing above all other, that purest earth
I " happiness which belongs to the family civ
Gle. She was fitted TO impart it largely to
those who were there connected with her,
| To the inmates and connexions Of her sorrow
/ ing Gami.y-to a husband-to a mother-to
sisters-to the little children whom she has
| left behind. Her death is indeed an irrepara-
| Bile bereavement. Yet let them not sorrow
as those without hope. The departed object
of their affections had grace to give evidence
| that true faith can overcome the terrors of
! death and enable the Christian to encounter
! it with calmness and resignation. Her faith
was an operative principle. 1t has brought
/ her into full communion with the mystical
body of Christ-the medium of his grace to
! fallen mainland had rendered this commun-
ion sincere and constant by a life and conver-
sation answerable to her Christian profess
ion. Thus in her character the virtues of So
cial and domestic life bloomed and ripened
into Christian piety. like time expanding into
eternity. Thus she crowned life of virtue
with the impershable coronalofthe Christian
| graces. Her last illness was marked by that
patience which is nourished by lively reliance
on God, and by the humble hope which springs
| from trust in his promises. The stroke that
taught her friends that she was mortal taught
them also, that she was the heir Of immortal
ity. Her death was the death Of the righteous;
1 her end was peace. The following are the
the concluding paragraphs of the sermon
preached at her funeral, by the Rev. Joseph
F. Phillips, in ST. Stephens Church, on Sun
day last from Psalm 23d, verse 4.
| Tho | walk through the valley of the
| Shadow of Death, | wiiliear no evil, for Thou
art with me, Thy rod and my staff comfort
[ me-"
"A member -four little flock has Just made
her transit through the dark valley, and, as
we trust, thus sustained by the shepherd, and
thus cheered by her presever, has reached
safely the other side. As she has passed
away, and fills no longer place among us,
except in the hearts Of her bereavcd family
and friends, it is 10 them matter of devout
ihankfulness, that she has left them as lega-
cy, good hope respecting her, and that saw
ior of good name which is as precious ONT
meut' shed forth. Her trial is over, her race
is run, she has reached the goal with honor.
You have, most ofyou, enjoyed longer &C
quaintance with her than myself, and to you
it is superfluous that should speak of what
she was. You have seen her during her
residence among yea, adjoining with many
useful and amiable virtues, the sphere in
which she was called to move, sustaining
with prudence, fidelity and kindness, the va
rious relations of private and social life. OF
her worth, as a wile, as mother, as a pious
woman, as friend, as neighbor, as a mem
Der of the social circle, those bear the stron-
gest testimony who knew her best.
And while these engaging qualities of heart
and mind endeared her to many, and won
for her the esteem of all-she possessed, we
humbly trust. those higher Christian graces
which constitute the true disciple of Jesus,
and gave a meetness for the inheritance of'the
Saints in light. She loved her Church-its
scriptural worship-i;s sober, chastened, or
DERBY devotion,-and here at its altar, she had
plighted her irrevocable vows, to her Lord
and her charity to his people: here had join
! ed the communion of Saints, from which we
trust she will never be separated. Her pety
was not o5trusive. not ostentatious. but shin
ed with mild, steady, equable light; she'd
ding gentle lustre over her conversation and
her life. Her faith supported her through
the trials of her pilgrimage. Walking with
her shepherd, leaning on Him, she entered
the dark valley Of the shadow of death. We
can trust her with Him. We will fear no
evil for her, we will fear no evil for our dying
seLres, while the shepherd is in the valley
He has led her safely through to the pleasant
land beyond-to his own Paradise-to the
Mountain of Spices"