Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-03-11

Mrs Clark had been, for long time. sut-
ferer under the influence of Che disease which
terminated her life and yet her death was
sudden. She bad been residing In Florida
for the past fifteen months. ON account ui
the hcathtulncss of the climate. and APP
poarcd to have improved under its inhu-
eucc. few days before her last illness
she had taken a slight cold, which it was
hoped would be soon thrown off. No cspcc
ial alarm was felt as TO the result until the
structure upon her lungs, from congestion be-
coming very painful, with difficulty of breath
ing, warned her of her true condition, and
the nearness Of her end In spite Of the best
medical attendance and the kind offices of her
husband and ather alcctionatc friends. she
brcathed her last in about twenty-five hours
after the attack
The interest felt and inquiries made by
portion Of the public. as we'll as the peculiar
cxcellonces of Mrs Clark's character seem
to claim for her something more than the
mere announcement of her death She was
/ the eldest daughter of the late Helekiah
Reed. ESQ. of Montpelier The acquaintance
of the writer with her began when she was
I in her twelfth year From that time she was
under his eve. in the school-room every day
he derives a sad pleasure from thus speaking
I Of the early development of some Of the yir-
tues. which afterwards ripcnod nto such love-
ly and excellent womanhood. II will sui-
/ fciently illustrate her remarkable consciep-
tiousa@s, to say that, young as she was, for
that period of four years at school, there
never occurred an occasion to censure or re-
prove her. She was always at her post, al
= Al a 1 1..s. l..
dent to every requirement, prepared for every
recitation. n.--and that. too with cheeriulness
and alacrity which ovinccd that obedience and
fidelity were not only her purpose, but her
delight.
Her intellectual cndowmcnts, also. were Of
an equally high order Mere child, as she
was, in years. her proper place, in the classi-
fcation Of the school. was with the most adj
vanced classes. And here, with sensitive
shrinking from notice. which gave no oppor-
tunty TO those who were her supcriors in age,
for the feeling that she was crowding herself
forward too far.-she was welcomed as a COM
panion, and became general iavorite Per-
sons acquainted with these characteristics of
her childhood. are alone able TO appreciate
rightly the character which she afterwards de-
velopcd. Her shrinking from promiscuous
company, might Doe ascrbed TO a feeling OF
disdain by those who did not know the pleas
urc, and even glco with which She mingled in
the more private intercourse OF society The
reserve which she manifested towards stran-
gors. might be charged with colduess or in
difference, by such as were unaware of the
tenderness with which she chung TO the OBJ
iects Of her affection, and the generous kind
ness which she manifested 60 the helpless and
needy.
But it was reserved for aHidion to bring
out the full sweetness and beauty of her
character and TO show us how true Chris
tian womanhood may come out of the furnace,
like gold tried in the fire, bearing the ripest
fruits of fortitude, peace aud Joy. Mrs. Clark
had a long and severe discipline of sorrow.
Just as she was passing into womanhood, and
had learned to value, in some due proportion
to their worth, the counscls and companion
ship of her mother, that model of mother
was taken from her by a stroke which to her
then seemed cruel, and which left a wound
that saddened and darkened many year OF
her life. until she learned by faith to rccog
nize in it, the hand Of her kind Heavenly
Father.-Thcn the sister nearest her own age,
and her especial confdant and friend,-her
school-matc, room mate; the companion of
her leisure, of her walks, of her visits; with
whom she walked to church in company, and
sat next her in the wel-fled slip,-that sis
ter was torn from her, and her heart was rent
again, and the old wound blod afresh as the
new one was inflicted. And then the young
est of the five daughters, a delicate lovely,
fragile flower, on whom as the youngest of
the circle, her care and love, since the death
of her mother, had been especially concen-
trated, sunk into her long-antcipated grave,
and she felt, as all who knew her felt. if they
did not say. "that there had passed away a
beauty from the earth"
These repeated Affections and griefs had
thrown a shade Of thoughtful sadness over
her spirits and prepared her to look for and
long for the consultations of religion. Her
modest self-distrust kept her back from an
open profession of her faith in Christ, until
sometime after it had become, in truth, the
JOY of her inward life and her strength of
heart This was the state Of her mind at
the time Of her marriage. And now having
entered into that sacred relationship, she had
left the home of her childhood, and the scenes
of her youth and with bright hopes, was
Just entering upon new duties forming new
friendships; laying out the plan Of life with
Joyous but modest expectations; when the
same cold hand of disease, which had so re-
Gently, chilled the lile-blood of so many of
her kindred, was laid upon her. But she had
now learned our blessed Sayiour's prayer
"Fathcr. not my will. but thine be done. "
Cheerful now, although not unaware Of her
danger, she submitted TO such medical treat
ment as her case seemed 10 require. when
suddenly, the seyerest shock of all fell upon
her, in the startling intelligence Of the death
of her father who had, with anxious forebod-
iugs for hen, few days before taken leave of
her in her new home. Here was a sore trial;
both of her lorttude aud her faith and her
chastened spirit came out Of the crucible,
thrice purified. Her heart was crushed, but
she did not murmur or complain. She could
still say Father, thy will be done From
this time the state Of her health became more
alarming to herself and her friends. | need
not follow her through her rapid decline. 1t
is enough to say that every thing which a
husbands thoughtful fondness could suggest
or the best medical skill could devise was
resorted to, to restore her to health. Pleas
ant and salubrious foreign olimes were visited.
Distinguished physicians were consulted,
Approved remedies were tried, And the
force of her disease seemed, at times, weak