The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-08-17
Rufus CHOiTE.

sonal "reminiscences of the deceased, who
was member of his congregation.
"How gentle he was in his intercourse
with you. He gave you a chair as no
ono else would do it. He persuaded you
at his table TO receive something from him,
in a way that nothing SO gross as Ian
guage can describe. lie treated every
man as though Lie were q gentleman and
he treated every gentleman almost as he
would a lady. His playfulness was SO
wise that you would as much admire as
smile. One word would often drop from
him of such comptroller sive, picturesque
meaning and beauty that the whole com
pany would sit in smiles and think about
it. as before a picture, till he skillfully
turned the conversation.
Then again how inquiring, how docile
he seemed as he sat and listened to you.
His intense desire to know everything
about q subject led him to ask simple
questions, to express childlike wonder,
to press you further-all which was the
musing mood of his own mind, though it
seemed like simplicity. I have seen him
as earnestil having one tell him how the
tenor, alto and soprano stood, relatively,
on the score, and why, as though it were
point in jurisprudence. He made you
feel that you were teaching linn; and you
forgot for the moment how much wiser
your information made him than it had
ever made you.
1t will not be deemed unsuitable if his
pastor should now and here as he him
self would say, open to you slight view
of him as parishioner. The intervals
were not very long between some express
sion or token of his remembrance-al the
more grateful as they were ettentiInes del
icate and simple; though now and then
the valuable contribution to the pastors
library Of the work in sixteen volumes, or
i'll six, OF in four, or in two, reflected as
much honor-apon the giver, who showed
his power to appreciate and select such
books, as it made the receiver feel the Oh
LEGATION to raise his own standard of &C
quirements. 1t was the man himself APP
pearing before you i'll his tokens of re-
membrance which gave them the principal
value.
If he is at Washington, he must needs
tell a minister at home, in his letter, how
the Sabbath bells DO not q little aggrayate
home sickness" See, once for all, in a
motto accompanying aloyal octave edition
of Wordsworth the man, original and pc
culiar in his kindness to q pastor as he
was in all other qualities; for there is little
risk in supposing that very few men ever
wrote such letter as the following under
ClIGuLlSLGuEtSs
My DEAR SIR. Having had child born,
within n few days, l. have thought l could do
no honester thing than to send my Minister a
volume of poetry--a votiue volume, as ords-
worth might say, l shall be sorry ifyou hap
pen to own the edition.
am most truly, your friend and servant.
II. CHOATE.
I have kneeled with him in prayer
when a great sorrow was upon his heart
| have stood with him as he leaned against
the door and wept. Yes, | have seen
him weep. And when he wept, you will
believe that it was to me, and would be
to any man, "a great mourning: as the
mourning of Hadadrimon.'
His love Of nature had most interest
ing property, which, theoretically, one
might be tempted, without knowing the
man, to say was not agreeable to the high
est reach of sentiment. He loved nature
chiefly in her utility. He was, in his own
sphere, creator, and beloved things not
only for themselves, but as creating
The ocean must have its ships and com
merce to please him; it must report tc
him how it fills its harbors, and estuaries
that be may love it supremacy. Nothing
was more poetical to him than that which
he so often speaks of in his addresses
the hour Of labor
A mechanic was with him Homeric.-
The ringing of an anvil, the whirring o
planning machine, the factory bells, and
wheels, and looms, were all Of them tc
bis mind approximations Of beauty. liz
| would, perhaps, be more imaginative Over
q great at-feld than on the solemn
woods, so far was his mind from anything
dreamy. or from being sentimental for it:
own sake. Yet when be was boy, anC
drove his fathers COW, aud cut his switch
as no boy in that capacity must fail to do
who would drive well, he has said tina
| more than once when he has thrown
| away his switch, he has returned to fine
It, and carried it back and thrown it un
10, the tree from Which he took il, for b.