Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-11-06
NRITI.EN,

lJlED, III lnlS CITY. DIl 'LIl NlTS ' ~
GINiA'T. BROOKE, the wife Of Henry L.
Brooke, Esq. AMI the yongnest daughter of tho
late Judge Henry 81. George TUCKER, Of Tic
Court OF Appeals Of Virginia.
Amidst the scenes Of death and sorrow, which
the present war has made familiar to u.s. tributes
TO tho memory OF those wha have been with.
drawn By Prayilencc frnm. the rEli.t circles Of
orr homes, have become less frequent Than
formerly. But, when death has taken such =
woman from society. her family. aud the Church
of God. rs Mrs. Brooke, The writer feels it would
he unjust to those who cherish her memory 20
omit TO render the meritci Eccl OF praise 10 her
eminent virlmcs.
She was highly gifted with clear and just
perceptions, 4 calm and we|l-baanced Judgment
and y graceful vivacity Of intellect, which made
her wise counselor. and the charming centre
of large circle @. Kindred aad friends She was
bright and versatile in the character and range
of her faculties. without any jiminution Of that
sound. practical sense which is the regulator Of
domestic life. There was in her mind beau:
full euuipolsl between Co.nmon sense and talent
The former was frightened By the play ola wit
which gave no wound but enlivcnad all within
its influence; while the latter was tempered and
controlled by Judgment which c!uag to tho
right and the true. rather than be mislcd By The
brilliant and specious.
Her mind found is counterpart in her heart
She was gentle and kind and loving. Her af
fections were at once ardent and enduring. lie
soul was the beautiful abode Of all that was puri
and elevated. Her synpathies made her evcl
r.ady "to weep with those that weep and TO re-
joicc with those who rejoiccd." She loved al
that was noble and good, and abhorred, whi!'
she pitied, (for she could not katc.) all that wa
| selfish and bad. She was sensitive plant
which shranl from tho breath, and avoided Tx
contact, of the mean and the wicked. TO tn
wre.ched her heart opened its portals and of rct
a home Her nature WAS modest almost to tmd
| ity; hut when duty required action, her nerves
though soreIy tr;od, 'nobIy responded. ]: wa
beautiful to see one wlo'e scnsibility was q
acute and delicate, become resoutc under trial
ard meet AMI surn,ount difficulties, for which
her education and her tenderly strung nature 81
little fitted her. While she ,shranls innately
from the co.nict. she endured Its trials will
constaEcy and fortitude, up3n tho solemn de-
mand OF duty.
1t may we'll be imagined that, with such gifts
her taste would be chaste and refined. All tha
offended her exquisite sense Of the rie! ut and Tx
excellent, or disturbed the proper fitness things
was az foreign to her as it was painful. She was
incapable of wourdins the feelings of any huma!
being. 1t was more congcnial to her to reclaim
the erring. to hush the cry Of woe to heal thu
WOUNDS lUHicted ny 'Hc uliIee!lHp, ann I'D Snt,
the light of her sweet and generous sympa'h,
upon the darkened path Of those whom 1. cod
world had injured aud distressed
Her manners presented n rare model for ia!i
tat:on. They had combination of Gicnit;. and
grace, which charmed MI who approached her
Sho won AMI riveted their Affections "Wi:l
her twas natural to please" In conversation
she was cheerful without rivoiity. ard instruc'
tive without pedantry.. III her intercourse with
strangers, she was genial and kind, with hci
friends cordial and aifsc,.ona:n; with her family
confidential aud without reserve. IL = word hor
person and her manners were invested with IN
indescribab!c charm. which none who knew her
can ever forget, though they be here so ftcbly
portrayed
At the age of Is years, she profcssed her faith
in Christ-and for more than thirty years. she
adorned that profession. Her religion was cpl
tomized in the great Apostles summary: "WlIat-
soever things ere true. whatsoever things were
honest, whatsoever things were Just. whatsoever
things were pure, whatsoever things were torniy,
whatsoever things were of go0d r'p0rf-if there
was any riruc:" hcSc, she thought, and spoke,
and practiccd. None will deny this praise to her
memory.
Her virtues were tested in The furnace Of tr-:l
and aflicticu. Tho dress WIS consumed It's
gold was refined. Her type of Christian wo-
sivc. Her natural vis'urs, and her Christian
graces, combined in y lav!innss. which beamed
in her face. ard s'lonc in lis steady light upon
all around her. Such wife such mother !
such n daughter! such sister such a friend
How many hearts will respond in quiverinS
echoes 70 her inestimahle worth III all these rea-
tions of life
The extinction Of suck light makes The
world grow darker TO very many, who loved her
with peculiar devotion. As we pass onward to
the tomb, the lights of earth aro withdrawn. to
make us gaze the moro intcntly on tho glory Of
God, which is the light of the better and brighter
home. Husband, children, brothers. sister, and
host of friends darkened by her absence. must
look up and follow where her purified soul re-
fleets. in fuller beauty. the glory of Him who
was the light Of her path through the shadows Of
the valley; and in the better world may all who
loved and mourn her, realiza the matchess ma
jesty of that grace manifested in the perfected
happiness Of her, who so faithfully lived and so
peacefully died in Him, and now rests forever,
anchored in the haven Of Eternal Bliss.
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