Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-09-18
OBITUARY.

Mrs. SOPHIA HOLMES, who expired in this
city, Aug. 10th, and whose death was men
toned IN your paper, was woman deserving
OF something more than the mere record of her
| departure. 1t is we'll known that she was the
mother of Mrs. E. Cakes Smith. who must have
owed her talents by descent from her mother,
who was intellectual in the highest degree; a
large-hearted, out-spoken woman such as peo-
pie OF generous appreciation love to honor, but
whom narrower minds fail to understand. Her
high sense of dignity and her un1inching NOR
| al integrity have been noted amongst her
| friends as akin to one of Frederick Bremer's
characters in the Neighbors-the ma cher mere,
the Mother of Bruno, and in many shades the
portraitnre was not Inappropriate.
| Mrs. H. was a woman of deep and intense
correctness of character, strong and ardent in
her attachments, and what was remarkable in
woman of her temperament, perfectly child
like In her forgiveness of injuries. Her whole
mind was broadcast, generous and high toned.
She seemed to have been allied to spirits of a
past age, when life had a meaning and pur-
pose apart from frivoity.
She was possessed of cheerful hnmor, break
ing into flashes of fine spirit, but her general
tone was that of deep ghtfulness-her con-
! vsrsation was often highly eloquent, Astounding
as 1t did with the most beautiful spiritual in
sight, and fine view of speculation.
In person she was above the medium height,
of a rich complexion. with eyes and forehead
retaining great beauty to the close of life
Her eyes were remarkable for an introversive
dreamness, contrasting strangely with their
ordinary look of correctness. For many
months before her departure she was in high
state of religious fervor, in which she talked of
the world to come as of place whose perfec-
ton of peace she already anticipated. Il shall.
not remain with you long she would say,
" but am ready to depart" Riding with her
daughter, she was full of enthusiasm at the
beauty of the scenery, and the clearness of the
sky, This is all beautiful, but close nv
eyes and behold country infinitely more beau.
| tiful"
Returning home, she desired drink of wa
ter. and her daughter taking pitcher brought
1t fresh from fountain in the house. She
held the glass and looked smilingly at the trans
parent liquid, and then looking up said, e.,
it is a never failing fountain of boiling water
will you remember - This alluson to the
internal sense was akin to her ordinary habits
of thought. Everything she beheld told to
her mind of something beyond or within
Nothing was common poor TO her eve but all
was full of rich. hidden meaning 1t was this
habit of thought that must have impressed it.
self upon the minds of her children, and have
helped to develope the best parts of their in
tellect. though suffering for many years from
| severe reverses of fortune, she was rarely with
out an opportunity of doing good, while in the
days of her prosperity her bcnevolence was of a
large and efficient kind. Her children remem
Der well the many errands of mercy upon which
she has sent them, and the poor, the widow,
and the fatheress, and him that had no he lper,
will now, perhaps, that she is no more, remem-
Der her bounty with gratitude.
Mrs III. was not n woman IA he tood hv
all about her-she viewed objects from high
er base, and talked upon them with a longer
and more energetic correctness.
She must have had an intimate conviction of
the near approach of death, for at her departure,
the last garments for the dead were found pre-
pared. and label pinned upon them, upon
which was written with her own hand, " For
this lump of clay, when the spirit has de-
parted
There is always something painful in the
sight of genius when denied its expression, and
| that Mrs. II. had the insight and temperament
of genius, none who knew her will doubt
But there is pleasure in knowing that the
heart that struggled for expression here, the
spirit whose lofty aspiration delighted in har-
mony has reached the sphere of infinite love
beauty and repose. Con-.