Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-11-20
DUELLING-A GLIMPSE AT THE PAST
BIZ HoRArro KING.

DUELLANG-A gILAMfSE AL HE 1ASS I :
By HoRATIo KING.
The following beautiful and pathetic notice OF
the death Of Member of Congress from Maine,
written by the Hon. Horatio King, the distn-
guished First Assistant Postmaster General OF
| the United States, and formerly q Printer in
Maine, will be read with peculiar interest after
the lapse of fifteen years since its first publica-
ton
1t was in October, 1884, took the steamboat
at Portland-that peaceful city on Casco bay,
now soon, trust, through the enterprise OF Its
leading spirits, to be connected by railroad with
the Canadian seat of Government--and after q
pleasant passage of a few hours, landed at Owls
Head, in Thomaston, / proceeded Immediately
to the west village in that fourishing town,
where the late Hon. Jonathan Cilley then re-
sided, and called on him at his Office. On en-
tering, found him occupied with some gentle
men who had called on business; he saluted me
politely, but observing that he appeared not to
recognize me, Git was not our first meeting)
readily made myself known. when he greeted
me in that frank, cordial, whole-souled manner,
which all who had the pleasure of his acquaint
ance, well knew was so characteristic of his
warm aad generous heart From his Office /
went with him to his house-a neat two-slory
building Of wood, clap-boarded and painted
white, with green blinds--where, by special
invitation, | renamed as the humble, but hon
ored guest of the family several days. Never
shall forget that visit. The impressions made
on my mind during my short stay with that ex-
celent family are among the pleasantest of my
life. Such perfect order and harmony, such un-
affected paternal and filial atfection-such words
of confidence and love. and such acts of kindness
1t was indeed picture of domestic happiness
beautiful to behold" and one fraught with
heavenly instruction. =
| But, pass over a. few short years, and the scene
changes. Honored by the confidence and snf-
frages of his felow-citizens, with high hopes and
buoyant feelings, the distinguished head of this
happy family quits the domestic fireside and
takes his seat in the councils of the nation. The
coDfiding wife turns to brush away tear, and,
nnbldden, comes to witness the scene of par ting
but looking upon her two dear treasures, OF
whom she now finds herself the sole guardian in
his absence, and then rejecting the separation is
only for season, she is comtorted. What fol-
lows? Hardly had the opportunity been afforded
him of enrolling his name on that temple of fame,
in laying the superstructure of which his noble
ancestors had essentially aided, and on which all
who knew him clearly saw it was destined to
occupy a prominent place, when he was called
to the ''ield of blood, from which he was borne
away liteless corpse! OF this frigbtfn tragedy
orbear, for it is unnecessary to trace the details
''lf that dark pitfall-that bloody grave--had
not laid in the midst of his path, whittier might
it not have led him!''
Where, now was the faithful partner of his
bosom With another bright jewel added to
her charge, she sat patiently awaiting his return,
fondly pcturing to herself the lively pleasure he
would experience in finding their little circle
enlarged by the introduction of one now so pre-
cious in her sight. But all unconscious as she
was of the dreadful stroke about to fall upon
her, forever blasting her happiness-nevertheles
may she not have dim foreshadowiDg-a Sc
cret foreboding OF t2 Certainly it is, on the
Sunday succeeding the Saturday of the fatal
tragedy, accldentaly turning to aud reading the
following hymn, she was impressed with peculiar
feelings, which induced her to mark it with a
pencil:
Far, far DER hill and dale, ON the winds stealing
List to the tolling bell, mournfuly pealing;
| Hark! bark it seems to say,
AS melts those sounds away,
SO life best joys decay,
| Whilst new their feeling.
Now through the charmed air slowly ascending,
List to the mourners prayer soemnIy blending;
| Hark bark it seems to say,
Turn from those joys away,
10 those which ne er decay,
For life is ending.
Ger fathers dismal tomb see the orphan bending.
From the solemn church yards gloom hear the dirge
Hark bark! it seems to say,
! How short ambitions sway,
Life's joys and friendships raw.
| In the dark grave ending.
So when our mortal ties death shall disseyer.
Lord may we reach the skies, where comes new
| er,
And in eternal day.
Joining the angels lay,
To our Creator pay
Homage forever
Alas the soul-chilling, heartrending news of
the tragical death of the husband and father
was already on the way, too soon to place be-
yond doubt the sad reality of what seemed to
have been thus mysterously re-tokened 1t
was the heart of a delicate female that was to
receive the seyerest shock, and to one of her own
sex It was left to communicate the dreadful til
dings by letter, extracts from which are now
before me: "Nothing (says the writer) but heart
felt sympathy could prompt me to this painful
duty. What can saya wha. ought to say
ln the hour of afiictiOn all earthly consolation
tails. But there is a fountain which lis never
dry; and your own experience will lead YOU to
it. You have sought it; you have found there
the waters of eternal life; may you now find its
waves bearing you up under the over rsheiming
| aHction that has come upon you. Remember
our Father 10 Heaven never willingly af1lcts or
grieves his children; and what we know not
now we shall know hereafter. =
That pleasant smile that was on his face in life
now fingers on his marble features. Your little
ones were oflen spoken of by him; and in that
last conversation they were remembered with
all the pride and affection of fathers heart
-. A lock OF his hair (vain con
splatlon) is to be sent you. With
my love, will say adieu, aud that God NAV
abundanty comfort and sustain You in this try
Ing hour is the fervent wish of your sympathiz-
ing friend"
Several weeks transpired, when the recollec-
tlon OF the above hymn occurring to the mind of
the now desolate and distracted widow she was
LED to turn again to it; that was the hymn which
was sung on the occasion of the solemn ceremony
OF committing to their final resting-place in
Ihomaston the remains of the noble hearted
Cilley. As well remarked by writer at the
time: "lts appropriateness to the situation of
the widowed mother of his orphaned children
will not fail to impress and interest every
reader"
met Mrs. Ciiley but once afterwards at
Portland, in the Summer of 1899 She was on
her way with her children to visit her friends in
New Hampshire, the former residence of her late
husband. She appeared less depressed than
expected to find, yet it was plain to perceive
that fixed melancholy, an unappeaseable sor-
row was slowly, but surely, laying waste the al
ready yielding supports OF her existence. OF
her great aud irreparable loss she made no men,