Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-15
O q ITUAR y.

Mrs S. NJ. PAUL, the wife of ISAAC PAUL,
Esq., of this city, died on the evening of the
18th inst, of congestion of the lungs, after
five days illness at the age of fifty one years,
two months and one day. The moral courage
and resolution which distinguished her
through life did not fail her at its close Her
naturally vigorous mind was strong to the
last. and the firm cOmpOsure aud fortitude
with which she entered the valley of shadows
was in perfect keeping with the moral hero
ism with which she met and overcome the
difficulties presented in the pathway of life.
She became conscious of approaching disSo-
luton the day before her death, and then
gave directions as to the distribution of Eu-
merous keepsakes among the various mem
bers of her family; after which she ferVently
but calmly appealed to God to sanctify her
death to the regeneration and redemption OF
her children.
On the day of her death, her breathing be-
came more and more difficult with OCCASION
al slight relief Her husband and children,
all of whom were present except one, assem-
bled around her bedside, while many rela-
tives and friends filled the apartment She
then stated to them the evidences upon which
she rested her hope for future of heavenly
happiness and singing out several members
of the family addressed to them words of
special counsel. During the afternoon she
continued to speak of the glory of Christ
ian's hope and grace, but with less and less
distinctness owing to her exhaustion and the
oppression of her lungs-anS finally att p
m. passed without sigh, or groan, or
struggle from life unto death, and thence, into
a life immortal.
About thirty years ago she became mfm-
Der of the Primitive Baptist Church, and re-
manned an acceptable communicate of that
denomination till death. She lived fully up
to its standard of Goodness, in all respects;
but was always tolerant of the world and OF
the opinions of other denominations of Chris
tians. She was among the humblest follow
ers of the Saviour, and took his Golden Rule
for the ensign and measure of her actions.
She did unto others, at all times, and under
all circumstances, as she would have them
do unto her, and loved her neighbor as her
self. This is literally true.
Her intercourse with the world was pre-
eminentIy distinguished by active benevo-
lence and charity, by frankness and disin-
terestedness. When her store was small she
divided it with the poor, and when it in
creased TO abundance it was her pleasure to
give. and she gave ungrudgingly. She fed
the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the
sick, and comforted the distressed. All these
she would do at personal Inconvenience, and
even at the hazard of life. Her attentions
were especially directed to the poor. When
the pestilence ragged, there was no howell so
lowly that she could not find it, and no work,
however offensive. that her own hands re-
fused to perform, to bring health where dis
ease, and comfort where wretchedness reign
ed. There was no hour of the night or the
day, of sunshine or of storm, when she heard
the vail of distress that she did not go. In
stances without number could be enumerat-
ed, and still instances without number.
known only to her immediate family and the
receivers of her benefaeIions remain untold.
Her unselfshness was supreme over every
other instinct of her nature, and thus her
life became one prolonged act of benevO-
lence towards others. The widow was her
sister and the orphan was her child, and both
alike partook of her sympathy and her boun-
ty. Yet her charity was unostentatiOus. She
derived no self praise from it. Her reward
was the unseen glory with which such deeds
iIlumine the meek Christian soul. Her pub
lie spirit connected her name publicly with
many charitable institutions, but her private
benevolence was unceasing and more ex-
tended.
Such is a very brief but unexaggerated, out
line of the life of Mrs. PAUL 1t is scarcely
credible that such deeds should proceed from
body extremely frail and constantly SUBJ
ject to physical suffering. Though naturally
robust, physically, her body was the constant
prey of disease fact which her extraordi-
nary resolution and buoyancy of spirit hid
from most of her acquaintance, but gave her
family much concern and apprehension-and
it has now triumphed. Her body has fallen,
and the spirit has risen.
Who shall fill her place? P.