New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-10
THE DE WOLF CHILDREN.


Correspondence of The n Y. Trisass.
CHICAGO, Tuesday, Sept u, 1858
have just returned from the funeral Of Anne tho
last Of Mr. De VOLTS children who suffered frum the
dreadful accident the Bay State. Never in this
sorrcwful world has there been touching sight
than that at the grave at the osr graves, containing
all that remains onearth of much beauty and bright
ness. Every heart sched for the unhappy survivors,
whose grief at the sight Of those three little fresh
mounds and the still open grave almost uncon
trollable The service of the Episcopal Church
read by the Rev. +. b. Kellogg, and the Rev. WIN.
Swope. The Psalm commencing
oh bles the Lcrd my soai
HIS grace % Thee pToclsint
had long been fsyorite with the dear lost child,
she had often read il to her parents, and u was sung
with great sweetness and expression az her grave Tho
music rose through the clear air 10 Heaven, an ex-
preston of Christian triumph over the most bitter
grieis of earth and though few voices could join in IT,
deep the emotion OF all present, every heart
humbly echoed the words The hymn, would not live
always, also appropriately chosen Those child
most intimate with the departed ones ioowedncxt
the chief mouruers and strewed white lowers over
their graves In this case where every one knew that
the hearts of the little were deeply affected,
the simple tribute was very pleasing. Its we'll 10
draw a veil quietly over all individual and private
Qriefs but the whole country has shown such pity and
sympathy in this calsmity that brief notice Of these
lovely and interesting children particularly the two
elder ones, NAV be given without fear of criticism.
Every person who knew them, easily recalls one to
mind lowering like guardian angel round the rest
now conducting a rosy, smiling group through the
crowded streets amusing them at gay shop window;
now tying little bonnet or arranging the long brown
curls beneath it, again ympathsing in some childish
grief with such love and motherly sweetness In her
looks as made her the interesting though perhaps
the least beautiful OF the group Her peculiar ieul-
mine love toward all little children, to every thing
that needed help made her blessing aud comfort in
every house she entered There Is not a mother Ia
the neighborhood who did not rejoice 70 see her or any
of the little flock enter her house, so excellent aud
benefeent was heirnHuenceso Free so true, squire
were they under all circumstances. IL requires no
stretch of imagination TO place Annie among those
angels fwhom have read that having during their
life on earth loved infants and little children with
love truly maternal the especial care and guardian
ship of these is committed to them IN Heaven mat
." they instruct them by beautiful representations
adapted TO their tender years. &c.
The society of the dear children was much courted
by parents account OF this lair exsmple-out NO
vanity egOtism appeared in consequence One coud
hardly bestow on our Annie even the justest praise,
without seeing the rich crimson mount to her cheeks
and forehead il gave her uneasness rather than pleas
ure at the moment, though she was not without love
of appreciation, and worked hard for school prizes,
which she almost always obtained. Yet IL Is remark
able that her success seemed to cause envy OF
unknd feeling in her young rivals even those VINO
might truly have said There is daily beauty IN her
" life which makes me ugly :; aud II IN any rare case
she was urgently treated her sweet and heavenly lor
Qyeness soon made the offender repent In her studies
especially of history and biography, il pleasure
To see her enthusiasm every great and heroic ac
ton Her soft dark eyes beamed with delight she coula
not express her whole air that OF reverence ana
admiration / always invOluntarily looked at her Oh
such occasions and in large class of young girls she
was invariably the most absorbed by the story ono OF
nv last conversations with her about Mrs Childss
Philothea" / remember the occasion wen one
had come with music box to amuse sick BABY, ana
TO borrow the book which had both read some time
before and as we recalled it, beautiful scenes and in
cidents she showed such peculiarly refined and dell
cate appreciation that could not help mentally saying,
All! YOU, too are real Phiothea, true lover and
worslpper of all goodness and beauty This last trait
the love of beauty. apparent at very early age
One Of her innocent with her bright sister
Charlotte and some other little friends was 10 describe
the house and gardens where they would like 70 1--we
/ can always call to mind these imaginary aoodes;
Princes might envy them their galleries Of statues and
pictures The marble terraces and fountains, the
groves and vines and singing birds the rich festsi ia
bes the vases OF crystal set with gold and precious
gems All dear children, In that heavenly city where
you now have your dwelling where the streets are Oh
gold and every gate is pearl there is full ENJOY.
ment for you Of all that your childish dreams could
picture IL n little pleasure OF theirs to creep
softly to their mothers room early on Christmas morn
ing and the little band OF brothers aud sisters would
wake their parents by singing the Christmas Hymn
The next time they celebrate that hour
when tho heaven-born ehild
All mesnly wrspt Ia the rude msnser hes"
The anthem will be set to angelic music-ye' even
an angel song will hardly seem sweeter than thosc
young voices sounded to the fond and ndugen parent.
so awakened How many pretty little customs anil
amusements they had. What choice little gifts they
made at trihiDg cost to honor the parents or each
others birthdays What contriyance and child-like
fuss there was 10 keep all the little secrets on these oc
ca.ions till the right moment How many poor women
and beQgar children had cause TO bless the generous
little hands always busy for the good OF others Their
servants their washw0meD, the hackmnn who usually
drove them when they rode out Though the ast Of
class unused to tears wePt sorrowfuy over tneht
tie graves each seeming TO feel personal loss.
The second sister Charlotte, was most beautfai
and noble looking child of such fine bearing and man
ners that she was universally noticed most decided
character was hers Always first In childish plays yct
sklful and untirng at all work which she undertooh.
Fndlessly laying fine plans and carrying them out 700
with equal force-for the pleasure beneht OF those
around her. There in her free step and STEADY
glance of her eyes, something very lofty, almost AKIN
10 scorn Of everything mean and low. Deceit or pre-
variation could never come from her lips No temp
taton would force her 10 either, and have seen her In
childish trials where others would have failed-Lotao
never failed She was of most joyous disposnon,
very sunbeam in her fathers house. never met hef
bright laughing face in the street. or saw her passing,
without being reminded Of Charles Lambs Z" hesfer
A:ga s.'S, s :,ss a. Il l sss s:''
II w~ Of joy no rate
Thai aashed her spintr
The accounts given by her physician In tho last
bonrs sbow a heroic fortitude and power 70 suffer
brsyey Both of the older children eyinced On entre
absence Of even Ia their great agony. After
the three Younger ones had died Annie seeing the despair
Of her ,her made the greatest efforts TO console him,
repeating many comforting passages from the Bible,
addressed TO those in affection This good seed had
long lay silently In her heart, to come TO use in this
hour Of utmost need, when her own tender and shec
- l. II -